No herdsman died in our territory – Aku Community

By Ochiaka Ugwu

The people of Aku town of Enugu State has in strong terms stated that no herdsman died in their territory nor have anything to do with the death of a herdsman reported to have found near its community by a section of the media.

Distancing the community from the heinous act, Chairman of Aku General Assembly (AGA), Chief Fidelis Odo Ezeoyili while speaking to newsmen in Aku yesterday described the report as a lie concocted from the pit of hell and a calculated attempt to pitch the herdsmen against the peace loving Aku people.

The Chairman of the Community's apex social-cultural organization who wondered what any person would do with such misleading and baseless report noted that the story was a figment of the reporter’s imagination and did not represent the fact of the matter.

Continuing, Ezeoyili maintained that Aku community has had harmonious relationship with herdsmen in the area, saying that the report was mendacious, malicious and a calculated attempt to fuel unnecessary crisis.

His words, “The entire Aku Community is worried and embarrassed by the recent report that the body of a deceased Fulani herdsman was found near the community.

"The recent incident in the two communities of Obimo and Nkpologu, about five kilometers to Aku town which the security agencies are currently investigating has to do with some alleged Hausa hunters who were found dead in the bush they were residing.

"We are aware that since the incident occurred, the state government and relevant security agencies have been on top of the situation. We have absolute confidence in the capacity and ability of the state government and security agencies to deal with the situation effectively.

"The incident has nothing to with Aku Community because the incident never took place in Aku territory. Again, before the incident, Aku Community has no immediate or pending conflicts with the alleged Fulani hunters, prior to the demise of some of them.

"It is preemptive and preposterous of any individual or media to publish or spread false information on such sensitive security matter, when the security agencies have not concluded investigation and made their findings public.

"Engaging in false publication on a matter as was done recently by a section of the media and individuals is capable of hampering proper investigation and instigating avoidable conflicts" he stated.

The AGA chairman further advised the media to always crosscheck their facts before publication to avoid misleading the public, urging the security agencies and the state government to diligently unravel the circumstances leading to their death.