Nimbo Massacre: Enugu Holds Mass Burial for Victims of Rampaging Herdsmen

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Friday, June 17th, 2016

By Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

ENUGU, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Immediate families, relations, and sympathisers, on Friday wept uncontrollably, as the remains of victims of the April 25, 2016 herdsmen attack ‎on Nimbo community, Uzo-Uwani council Area of Enugu State were buried enmass in the locality.

The community, it would be recalled, was severely attacked in the early hours of Monday, of the fateful day by heavily armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, who killed several people, as well as destroyed buildings and other properties valued several millions of naira.

Speaking with emotion laden voice at the solemn event, Enugu state Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who led the State Government’s delegation to the mass burial, said the incident “will ever remain a dark, sad and solemn day in the memory of the people of Enugu State and indeed Nigerians at large

He recalled “It was on that day that our brothers and sisters, whose remains are lying here before us, were ambushed and murdered in cold blood and on their own land.

“Having done all that was needful, including attending to the injured and the displaced, we have assembled here, in tears and in grief, to bury the dead and bid their innocent souls a final farewell.

“Though our emotions cannot restore them to life, we find solace in the fact that the whole world had stood by us and offered us sympathy and solidarity, ever since the incident that took their lives, occurred.

“We make bold to declare that their deaths can never be in vain and we pledge to do all that is within our legitimate means, to give them justice.

“Like the martyrs they have become, the spilling of their innocent blood is already saving souls as it has aroused in our people and indeed the whole nation, a burning impulse to do all that is necessary to prevent the future occurrence of similar incidents anywhere in the country. ”

“Shortly after the attack, we had called for fasting and prayers and we must declare that the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, and awesome God of David, has not failed us but has continued to show us His mercies.

“For, even as we await the outcome of the judicial panel of Inquiry that we have constituted to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, we received news that five people, who are suspected to have participated in the attack, had been arrested by the police and paraded before the whole world.

“We use this occasion therefore to once again, express our gratitude to the generality of Nigerians who put aside religious, ethnic and political differences, to offer us their hands of support and sympathy after the killings.

“We thank the Federal Government and the security agencies for the steps they are taking to prevent future occurrences and address the issues that led to the incident.

“We thank the people of Enugu State for their restraint and for the confidence they placed in our ability as a Government to deal with the matter in a mature and responsible manner.

“Finally, we wish to thank the elders and stakeholders of Enugu State, Traditional Rulers, Members of the State and National Assemblies, members of the clergy and indeed everyone who found time to be here today as we send forth our brothers and sisters, to eternity and immortality. May their souls rest in the peace”, he prayed.

The funeral service which took place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Nimbo, was attended by Governor Ugwuanyi, ex- Governor of Anmabra state, Mr. Peter Obi and sympathisers from various parts of Nigeria.