News
Again, Herdsmen Sack Enugu Community …Kill One, Injure Others
Suspected herdsmen have struck again in Enugu State early morning yesterday, barely four months after they attacked the Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state.
This time, a seminarian of the Catholic faith, identified as Lazarus Nwafor was killed, while four other members of a family sustained severe injury when suspected herdsmen attacked the Ndiagu Attakwu community, in Nkanu West council of the state.
Nwafor, who returned to the community on Wednesday from his apostolic work hailed from Imo State, and lived as a tenant in a compound belonging to Ogbodo Nwarum before he met his untimely death in the hands of Fulani herdsmen.
The entire family of Ogbodo Nwarum, including his pregnant wife, their aged mother, their daughter and himself received several machete cuts from the marauding herdsmen.
The victims were said to have been attacked at about 2.00am yesterday when the herdsmen whose number could not be ascertained invaded their home.
The Fulani herdsmen were said to have opened the ceiling of the building of their victims and gained access into their living apartments.
While the seminarian was not lucky as he died before receiving any form of medical treatment in the hospital, the other members of the Obgodo Nwarum family are now receiving treatment at the Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Ogui, Enugu.
The state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who rushed to the community early yesterday morning, expressed shock over the attack, and promised that the state security apparatus would set into motion to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
He stated that he had on receiving news of the attack summoned an emergency security council meeting to determine the next level of action, urging the residents to maintain peace in the community.
It was alleged that the herdsmen invaded the Ogbodo Nwarum family following a treatment meted to their cows by the pregnant wife, who was said to have sounded the metal gong that drove away the cows on Wednesday afternoon in their compound.
Police was yet to make any arrest as at the time of filing this report, even as security has been beefed up in the community.
Reacting to the incident, the Enugu State police command confirmed the early morning attack of Ndiagu Attakwu community in Nkanu West Local Government Area, yesterday, by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
It said the incident left one person dead, while four people sustained various degrees of injuries.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Emmanuel Ojukwu, who was in the area for a spot assessment, urged members of the community to be calm just as he sympathised with the family of the victims.
“I want to sympathize with the entire community over the alleged incident of attack by suspected herdsmen in the early hours of today (Thursday), which left one person dead and four others critically injured.
Ojukwu, also enjoined the people not to panic “as the state command in partnership with the relevant stake holders and the state government have stepped into the incident.
“Security made up of personnel of Anti-Riot police men, Counter-Terrorism Unit as well as operatives of the homicide section of the State Criminal and Investigation Department, Enugu have been deployed to the area to ward off any breakdown of law and order”, he stated.
The commissioner equally visited the injured persons at both Mother of Christ, and Parklane Hospitals, Enugu.
He said full scale investigations into the incident have begun.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
