No gun battle between Fulani herdsmen, military in Nsukka — Council boss

By PATIENCE OGBODO-IWU

The Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area in Enugu state, Cosmos Ugwueze, has debunked reports being peddled on social media of gun battle between Fulani Herdsmen and military personnel in the area.

In a statement made available to DAILY INDEPENDENT in Enugu on Friday, the council chairman warned the detractors to desist from such acts and always verify their information before posting them on social media.

He said: “The attention of Nsukka Local Government Council has been drawn to a false alarm capable of incalculable damage to the peace and security of lives and property in Nsukka Local Government and of course Enugu State, being circulated on the social media platforms, precisely Facebook by one David Ani, an Indigene of Nkerefi, Nkanu East Local Government Area, who is known to be hiding under the pseudo name of Odogwu na Nkanu to circulate untruths and create panic.

“Ani in a post titled: “Happening Now” there is Gun battle between the team of ESN and military personnel and the military personnel removing their uniform. Not done with his large appetite for purveying falsehoods, he went on in another post to claim that “28 soldiers, 19 Fulani herdsmen down in Nsukka, Enugu State last night.”

“We have the responsibility of informing the general public that there was and there is no presence of ESN anywhere in Nsukka Local Government Area and there is no incident involving Nigeria Army, or Fulani herdsmen in any part of the council area.

“The general public is hereby advised to go about their normal businesses without fear as Nsukka local government is peaceful and calm.

“David Ani and his co-travellers are hereby advised to be more factual and reticent in their public posts and comments as they are capable of causing panic and serious security problems, not only in Nsukka but in Enugu as well,” he said. (Saturday INDEPENDENT)