ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA
A group under the aegis of Concerned Professionals For Good Governance has described the news making the rounds that herdsmen have killed 25 persons in Enugu as a fake news and should be ignored by well meaning NIgerians.
In a press statement made available to Independent in Lokoja, on Wednesday, the Advocacy group noted that those behind the news intended to portray Enugu state being bedeviled by insecurity.
The press release with the title : “Debunking The Politics of Insecurity: Enugu State on Our Minds” the Coordinator of the group, Okechukwu Nwafor said the story with the caption, 25 Persons Killed, Scores Injured As Armed Herdsmen Attack Enugu Village was laden with devilish imputations, malicious and false in its entirety.
The statement read in part”Agreed that lately marauding herdsmen have been running amok across the Country, invading towns and villages, and leaving a trail of sorrow, tears and blood in their path. However, there was no such invaders’ attack on the agrarian communities of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area in Enugu State that left 25 persons dead.”
“This independent rebuttal of the falsehood targeted at diminishing the strides of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and the Enugu State Government in the area of Security is long overdue. We must not suffer ‘alarmists and fifth Columnists’ gladly. We have therefore chosen to debunk the devious falsehood of tale-mongers and bearers of false report and fake news.”
“Twice the false tale of marauding Herdsmen sacking communities in Enugu State have been bandied by those who are desperate to undermine the success of Enugu State in protecting lives and property. Not having any scores against the Enugu State Government in areas of Infrastructural Development, Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, and regarding facts about the profound strides of the Enugu State Government, naysayers have resorted to the Politics Of Insecurity. They have chosen to hype isolated incidents and falsely alarm lovers of the State, Ndi’Enugu and Nigerians.”
“We, the Concerned Professionals For Good Governance (A Good Leadership Advocacy Group) upon seeing the news that has since gone viral regarding 25 Persons allegedly mowed down by Herdsmen in Enugu State proceeded to verify the news. We reached out to local Vigilantes, to Security Agencies as well as Agents of Government at the State and the Local Government level, sadly we found out that it was untrue. And we decided to query the possible reasons cum intention of the bearers of the false report and the fake news.”
“Enugu State has a premium time Digitalised Security Control Centre. Enugu State collaborates seamlessly with the Police, the Army and other Para-Military Agencies charged with the protection of lives and property. ‘Enugu State is doing profoundly well in almost all the sectors of leadership, and Enugu State has become the go-to location for Corporate, Public Sector and Private Sector retreats and Conventions as well as Governmental events. It has become the shinning example in good governance. But Enugu State has also clearly become the envy of other States, such that Politicians seeking to diminish the laudable feats of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and naysayer have resorted to the politics of fear-mongering and insecurity, but we shall not fold our hands and allow falsehood to stick.”
“Enugu State is arguably the safest State in the entire South, thanks to the commitment of the Enugu State to the protection of lives and property. This Truism have been attested to by Nigerians of different tendencies including friends and even members of Parties in the opposition in the State. The commitment of the ebullient Governor of Enugu State to security is Olympic and indisputable, and not only is the State Government supportive of Security outfits with funding, the State has in place a Public and a Private Sector fueled fund to support Security Agencies in the furtherance of the Security of the State.
“We can say without equivocation that Enugu State is safe and is deservedly emerging a preferred destination for investments, business, tourism, and residential. It is proudly emerging a conferencing capital, ready and able to host tier one events such as the forthcoming NBA conference and Nigerian Guild of Editors Conference, among others. Ndi’Enugu are hospitable and willing to play host to legitimate institutions, as the State government in partnership with all available Security Agencies work seamlessly to guarantee peace and security in Enugu State.”
The group, however,urge and encourage the media to always verify and validate information particularly issues bothering on Security before publication. That way, fake news on issues of Security will be shibboleth, as the state is safe and will remain so, as the government is unalterably committed to the protection of lives and property.”
