He spoke under Order 43 of the Senate Standing
Orders to make a Personal Explanation over the
mayhem in Uzo- Uwani community, where he said
over 50 lives were reportedly lost, while over 2000
persons were displaced and homes amid property
worth millions of Naira were destroyed.
He called on the Senate to immediately conduct a
public hearing to enable all stakeholders to state their
feelings and experiences with a view to finding a
lasting solution to the issue.
He said, “Mr. President, remember I call your
attention to a resolution of this Senate on Thursday 03
March, 2016. Recall that on that day, one of the
issues we discussed was a motion titled ‘tackling the
perennial conflicts between farmers and cattle
herdsmen’.
“At the end of that debate, we took a number of
resolutions. I recall that in my contribution I
suggested that the Committee on Agriculture and
Rural Development as well as the Committee on
National Security and Intelligence do conduct a public
hearing on this matter with a view to articulating a
lasting solution to the problem.
“Up till now, that public hearing has not started. It is
important for Nigerians to know that we are doing
something about this perennial problem. It is not
enough for us to be doing something; we must be
seen to be doing something.
“I believe that it is time for the committees to come
together and commence action on these resolutions
namely, to start a public hearing on this problem
between the farmers and the cattle herdsmen. “I say
this because it is getting too late.
“Just yesterday, we heard that over 50 persons were
killed in Uzo- Uwani Local Government in Enugu State.
We heard about 2000 people were displaced and over
a hundred people were injured. Houses were burnt,
including churches.
“As I speak, some people who live in Enugu, ESPECIALLY
THE HAUSA AND FULANI are taking refuge in the Army
barracks and it is not good for our country. These are
people who didn’t know about those who went and
attacked the ordinary people of Uzo-Uwani
and today they are now refugees.
“It also implies that if any person dies in the process,
there could also be reprisals in other parts of Nigeria
and this can engulf the whole country.”
Ekweremadu tasked security agencies in the country,
especially those within Enugu State, to without any
further delay, fish out the perpetrators of the
dastardly act, with a view to making them face the
full wrath of the law.
While condoling with the families of the victims; the
DSP urged them not to lose their patience.
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