Ugwuanyi stops Fulani anti herdsmen protest in Enugu.

Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Saturday stopped the massive protest organized by the Catholic Church Enugu diocese against the attacks perpetrated by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state.

The Catholic Church in Enugu had last Sunday announced its plan to embark on a mass protest which would take off from the Holy Ghost Cathedral Ogui New Layout and end at the Government House, at the Independence Layout, Enugu where the protesters were to register their complaints to the Governor.

But a security meeting reportedly held last night at the Government House, Enugu came up with the conclusion that the proposed peaceful protest could be hijacked by hoodlums, hence the Governor and the security chiefs in the state moved in to contain the protest within the confines of the Cathedral, according to Ugwuanyi’s aide, who pleaded anonymity.

Addressing the crowd during the prayerful procession in the large compound of the Cathedral, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, His Grace, Dr. Callistus C. V. Onaga said: “Our Governor is part of what we are doing here today and that’s

why he’s here with us.”

Bishop Onaga enjoined the federal government to be more proactive to make sure that the already tense situation particularly in Enugu State and Nigeria in general does not degenerate into an open clash of ethnic nationalities all over the country.

“We call on the federal government to stop without further delay, the so-called ‘Grazing Bill’ which is quite capable of tearing apart the fragile unity of our country,” he said.

Onaga however,  called on Enugu people and indeed, Nigerians  to be law-abiding and continue to work for a harmonious co-existence among Nigerians, adding that “ we shall continue to defend the right of every Nigerian to live in any part of the country and carry on his or her legitimate business, while respecting the laws of the land and the rights of other people to do the same.”

But Onaga also advised all local community leaders to refrain from entering into agreements with herdsmen or with any other groups of persons that would create room for tension and crisis.

In his speech,Governor Ugwuanyi, said:“We have continued to take necessary measures to make sure that the attack does not recur anywhere in the state.