Full text of Enugu State Governor's speech at the burial mass of victims of herdsmen attack at Nimbo Community

Enugu State Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi addressed people and family members of the victims murdered by Fulani Herdsmen at Nimbo Community, present at the burial mass which took place on Thursday. What he said below... Monday, the 25th of April, 2016, will ever remain a dark, sad and solemn day in the memory of the people of Enugu State and indeed Nigerians at large.

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 in 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. Amen.

Thank you all and God bless.


Video Credit: Facebook - Louis Amoke