Anambra Govt. dismisses report of Fulani herders’ invasion of airport

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State Government has dismissed the news making the rounds that

a group of Fulani herdsmen, with their herd of cattle, invaded the newly-built and commissioned Anambra State International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri.

The government vehemently denied the report, saying that there was no case of cattle herders gaining “entry from the Umueri route to the airport, destroying farms close to the airport.”

A statement by the state commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba said that nothing could be farther from the truth, even by the standard of sensational journalism.

Contending that the report took fiction too far, the Commissioner said that the report did not make any mention of cross-checking with the Anambra State government that built the airport and runs it, or the airport security or even the police.

He said: “Some envious elements within the political firmament have gone to great lengths to run down the landmark achievement of building the state-of-the-art airport by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State in record time, but it goes beyond the tale, trying to manufacture fictions about a fanciful Fulani cattle invasion.

“The cattle being bred in the Umueri area for many years belong to Anambra farmers and investors, not to any imagined Fulani invaders.

“The security is sophisticatedly electronic and manual.”

Adinuba explained that the perimeter fencing of the airport is up-to-date and cannot be breached easily, either by man or even far less by cattle.

He said that reckless journalism of inventing fictions and appealing to the base indulgencies of opposition partisan political elements deserves condemnation by all Nigerians.

According to him, two of Nigeria’s most reputable airline companies, Allen Onyema’s Air Peace and Obiora Okonkwo’s United Nigeria Airlines, were already running regular flights to and fro Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, noting that the passengers have never ever complained about security at the airport.

The Commissioner urged the public to be conscious of attempts to spin fibs to run down well-constituted projects designed to enhance Nigeria’s development.

“Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport remains an eloquent testament that uplifting things is possible in the Nigerian public space, and no amount of reckless journalism can drag down a plane already up in flight.

“Any further clarifications on this matter can easily be accessed through the airport security, the police or the Anambra State government.

“The arm-chair journalism of manufacturing fibs to pursue a partisan political agenda stands condemned.

“Anambra State International Cargo and Passenger Airport is in no danger of being breached by cattle or humans. There is no panic whatsoever.

“The normal farming activities of Anambra cow-owning villagers near the airport should not be magnified by sponsored elements into viral tosh,” Adinuba said.