Rehabilitate Victims of Cattle Herders’ Violent Attacks, Say KSJI­­­

The Knights of St. John International (KSJI), Enugu Grand Commandery, spanning five Dioceses: Abakaliki, Awgu, Enugu, Idah and Nsukka, has condemned the recent violent attack of Ukpabi Nimbo by persons believed to be Fulani cattle herders, which left many lives and properties destroyed.

In a Press Statement signed by the Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the Grand Commandery, Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, the President of Enugu Grand Commandery, Sir Peter U. Adimora, said whatever that may have been the covert reason, the attack and the degree of destruction was barbaric, unwarranted and condemnable.

Knights of St. John International (KSJI), a lay apostolate Order of the Roman Catholic Church with its Headquarters in New York, United States of America, was not happy about the persistent or incessant nefarious activities of cattle herders in various parts of the country, warning that if such barbaric actions were not checked by government it may escalate to an uncontrollable level that could trigger off inter-ethnic uprising that may be difficult to contend.

The people that carried out the heinous crime obviously should not belong to this world because what they did was against humanity and God and should not be treated with soft hand if eventually apprehended.

People should for no reason be engaging in any act of killing and destruction because the scriptures and the Laws of the country, including the fundamental human rights to which Nigeria is a signatory, forbids acts of destruction of lives and properties, hooliganism and lawlessness, which indeed was exactly what the people that attacked Nimbo did.

The KSJI Enugu Grand President charged governments and their various security agencies and local vigilante groups to ensure at all times that they live up to their responsibility of protecting lives and properties in Nigeria.

He urged the government and the security agencies to fish out the culprits of the attack on Nimbo and ensure that they are adequately punished according to the Laws of the Land, to serve as correction to them and as a deterrent to others that may wish to engage in such act again, anywhere in the country.

Brigadier General Adimora said that criminality of any kind, especially lawlessness and killings, whether in the north or in the south or in the east or in the west, was abominable and an act of irresponsibility and a total disrespect to God.

KSJI sympathise with the people of Nimbo, especially those who lost their loved ones or relations and properties in the violent act.

Government and charity organisations or aid donor agencies and philanthropists should come to their aid and provide the living victims of the Nimbo attack and other victims of similar attacks elsewhere in the country with rehabilitation materials and succour.