Don’t politicize herdsmen killings – Rights group tells Enugu Attorney General

7 years ago

Don’t politicize herdsmen killings – Rights group tells Enugu Attorney General

A non governmental organization, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has accused the Enugu State government of not doing enough to forestall dangerous activities of herdsmen in the State.
The group in a statement on Monday slammed the Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner ?for Justice, Barr. Meletus Eze over the inability of his office to prosecute suspects arrested over the killing of some residents by Fulani herdsmen.

It could be recalled that on the 25th day of April 2016, the peaceful town of Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, leading to the death of many and several others injured.

Exactly four months later, another Enugu community, Attakwu, Akegbe-Ugwu also came under a deadly attack.

Prior to the second attack, precisely on the 25th May 2016, the Police headquarters, Abuja, under the leadership of the former Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase, paraded 5, suspects who were arrested in connection with the Nimbo massacre.

The said 5 suspects are: Mohammed Zurai, Ciroma Musa, Saleh Adamu, Suleiman Laute and Haruna Laute.

The Police High Command had maintained at the press briefing of May 25th 2016, that there were overwhelming evidence against the suspects, as video recording of the massacre was also found on one of the suspects’ phone.

Speaking to the development, President of CRRAN, Barr. Olu Omotayo expressed worry that “since that 25th May 2016, which is over 3 months ago”, the office of the Enugu Attorney General “has not deemed it fit to call for the case file in respect of this case from the police and commence process to initiate criminal trial of the arrested suspects.”

The group told Eze that “as the No.1, Legal officer of Enugu State, it is your office that has the constitutional power to commence or discontinue legal prosecution of criminal trials in the state.

“We, therefore, demand that you urgently call for the case file from the police in respect of this matter with a view to commence the criminal trial of these suspects. The offences they committed are serious offences against the state and the citizens of Enugu State.

“This is not a political matter or a matter you need the consent of the Attorney General of the Federation before you take action.

“So, we demand urgent action from your office in respect of this matter, in the interest of justice for the state and the relatives of the innocent souls mauled down by the attackers.”