Herdsmen not responsible for Enugu killings—Police

The Enugu State Police Command on Wednesday said herdsmen are not responsible for the killing of dozens of people in the state.

A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer,  Ebere Amaraizu, said hoodlums were responsible for the killings.

“The attention of Enugu State Police Command has been drawn to various publications in some sections of the media regarding the incident at Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State and hereby present the facts as follows for the guidance of members of the public and to avoid being misinformed,” the statement read.

“On the 25th of April 2016, at about 0630 hours (6.30am), some hoodlums invaded the fringes of Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing six persons and injuring 11, and one person subsequently died.

“That the police and army team in the area, noticing what was going on, responded whereby the hoodlums fled after also burning the house of Rev. Pastor Samuel Chukwuemeka, two vehicles and one other vehicle damaged.

“It has become necessary to give information/update of earlier information by the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command and state the actual figures as so many figures are bandied about by various sections of the media.”

Amaraizu, who is a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), expressed sympathy of the command with the bereaved families and reassured the public that the perpetrators would not escape punishment.