A coalition of NGOs in Enugu State has called on Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to urgently rebuild Nimbo community in Uzouwani Local Government Area which was attacked by suspected criminal herdsmen in April.
The coalition made the call in Nimbo on Tuesday when it donated some relief materials to victims of the attack in the community.
The group led by the Executive Director of the Carmelites Prisoners’ Interest Organisation (CAPIO), Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku, also urged government to pay more attention to the development of rural areas.
“It is evident that life in rural areas has remained rustic where the inhabitants lack even the most basic of amenities while those in the metropolis have a surfeit of such amenities.
“That situation has become untenable considering the environmental risks the inhabitants of the rural areas are exposed to.
“The government should embark on extensive agricultural activities in Nimbo which is an agrarian community rather than abandoning the people to an agrarian subsistence existence.
“Government’s failure to exploit the agricultural potentials of the community is akin to abandoning the people to devilish whims of the herdsmen who are attracted to the lush grass in the area.
“A stronger government presence in Nimbo and other communities in the council will attract investors in the agriculture sector and the untapped potentials of Nimbo,” he said.
Ekeroku said that such presence would definitely keep the herdsmen away.
He also urged government to use the Nimbo incident to review its policy on development of rural areas.
At the palace of the traditional ruler of Nimbo, Igwe John Akor, the director condoled with the community on the losses of lives and property during the mayhem.
The traditional ruler, on his part, thanked the group for the visit and donation, saying government and other organisations were doing their best to rehabilitate the people.
