By: Chinenyeh Ozor

An unguided internal hot peace is brewing in Enugu north senatorial zone of Enugu state following the April 2024 killing in Nimbo community of Uzo-Uwani local government area where four natives of the community were assailed to death by unknown herdsmen.

Senetor Chuka Utazi numbing over the recent killing of four natives of Nimbo community points unforgiven fingers at the former governor Enugu state Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuayi for his inability to provide adequate security measures after the 2016 mayhem in the community, over 40 natives killed in cold blood.

Senetor Utazi who represented Enugu north at the upper hallowed chamber of the national assembly said the needless killings in the agrarian communities of Uzo- Uwani, as seen in the slaughter of four natives of Nimbo , have made the community porous to a killing field and engendered panic among residents and visitors alike.

The ex-senetor while reacting to the killing of the four natives of Nimbo by Fulani headsmen in a statement made available to journalists disclosed that the building of a Mobile Squadron Base at Nkpologu community, which would have served as a swift response unit in the face of such security threats was politically thwarted by the past administration in the State, ithereby exposing the vast areas of Uzo-Uwani to kidnappers, terrorists and violent herdsmen.

Utszi while wailing” said since the 2016 massacre in Nimbo community where over 40 people killed, no week has passed without reports of killings, main, kidnap and rape of natives by rampaging Fulani herdsmen”.

He recounted that in the wake of the 2016 massacre in Nimbo, “I took the matter to the Senate Plenaries, which prompted former President Muhammadu Buhari to dispatch Inspector General of Police IGP Solomon Arase to the scene.. The IGP approved the commencement and building of Mobile Squadron Base at Nkpologu and handed the letter personally to him to deliver to the Governor” .

“ Gov. Ugwuayi on receipt of the letter, convened a meeting to change the location to his preferred site and in the process robbed Uzo-Uwan local government area a project that would have put paid to the constant killings of people in the locality ’ he said.

Senator Utazi noted that the prosecution of the five suspects apprehended in connection with Nimbo killings 2016 suffered great setbacks due to lack of fund by the Enugu State Government for diligent prosecution of the matter in court.
“Ex-gov Ugwuayi set up a panel of inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the 2016 Nimbo killings, but there were no follow-ups on the matter.
My personal attempts to bring the issue to Governor’s attention met vicious attacks from political sycophants and hired online mobs”

The enraged ex-senetor argued that if the suspects arrested in 2016 killings were properly prosecuted, the recent attack and killing of four most recent one’s could as well be averted.
Utazi explained that Uzo-Uwani has the largest landmass east of the Niger, with numerous water bodies and fertile lands which are major attractions to Fulani herdsmen.

Utazi however advised governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah not to follow the unacceptable path of his predecessor in offfice in finding lasting solutions to the constant killings of natives on regular basis. Urged Mbah to facilitate the handing over of Nkpologu Divisional Police Station to the police in order to make the place functional.

” I Built built the police station as a senetor, as well as residential quarters, and provided a functional borehole and Hilux vehicle as my contribution to fighting insecurity in Uzo-Uwani local government area.”

Senetor Utazi urged governor Mbah to revisit the report of the panel of inquiry on the 2016 Nimbo killings and possible publish a white paper on it.

He appealed the Governor to direct the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to track the matter of the five suspects arrested in connection with the 2016 Nimbo massacre and ensure diligent prosecution until justice is duly served.
Mr Ezeagu Thomas in a swift reaction to senetor Chuka Utazii’s claim that ex-governor Ifeanyi Ugwuayi being behind the abortion of the establishment of the Mobile Squadron Base at Nkpologu which according to him is responsible for the attacks from the herdsmen holds no water, baseless and unfounded
Ezeagu noted that Utazi spoke like a confused man, who only waisted eight years in the senate, adding that the laxity of Utazi led to the building of Nimbo Police Divisional Headquarters by Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuany former governor of Enugu state, stressing It will be illogical that Ugwuanyi frustrated the building of the Mobile Squadron Base at Nkpologu and still went ahead to build a police division at the epicentre of the crisis.

Gov Ugwuayi in the wake of the attack in 2016 immediately set up forest guard security outfit, mobilized them with operational vehicles. built Nimbo Police Divisional Headquarters which became the mother of all interventions within the community.
Ezeagu echoed that Utazi cannot boast of any project he accomplished in Enugu north federal constituency for the eight years he hold up in the senate

Sen. Utazi failed in all spheres, roads, water projects across the zone, building of substandard primary and secondary schools, if not for the timely intervention of ICPC and EFCC, the items for constituency empowerment would have been diverted by the erstwhile senetor.

“Utazi as a matter of urgency and necessity should face issues that would bring lasting peace to Uzo-Uwani local government area rather than trying to score cheap political points just because he still may have an eye on the senate come 2027” he said.