From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Irked by the abduction of four Catholic Reverend Sisters on Sunday by gunmen, Igbo youths under the aegis of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) have urged Igbo youths to guard their forest and protect their indigenes against attack by the Fulani herdsmen.
A statement by the President General of the group, Goodluck Ibem alleged that the abduction was perpetuated by the herders.
To forestall further occurrence, the youths implored one another to guard the forest in the affected areas and beyond.
Ibem while recalling other abductions of the clerics in that zone has described the incident as sacrilegious and berated President Muhammadu Buhari for its persistence.
Recalling other incidents, he said: “A few months ago in Edo State, some Fulani terrorists kidnapped a Catholic Priest Rev. Fr Christopher Odia and killed him in the process. The Prelate of Methodist Church His Eminence Rev. Samuel Kanu Uche was kidnapped along the same Okigwe – Enugu expressway and N100 million was paid as ransom to secure his freedom.
To avert what happened in the community, the youths advised thus: We call on Umulolo Community and all communities along the Okigwe – Enugu expressway to mobilize their youths to guard their forests from invaders who pretend to be herdsmen when they are not. The youths should resist any form of cattle grazing in their Communities.
“We, therefore, call on well-meaning Nigerians to wake up and defend their country from these Fulani terrorists and Jihadists who have invaded our nation to destroy it.”
