• APC govs storm Enugu 

From Chidi Nnadi and Petrus Obi, Enugu, Molly Kilete, Abuja

POLICE Force Headquarters, yesterday, redeployed Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Nwodibo Okechukwu to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Emmanuel Ojukwu is his replacement.

Okechukwu’s redeployment may not be unconnected with a recent attack by Fulani herdsmen on Nimbo community in Uzo Uwani local government area of the state, where several people were killed and houses and churches burnt by the herdsmen.

Ojukwu is a two-time force public relations officer and one time commissioner of police.

When contacted on the development, Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawoke confirmed the transfer yesterday night.

She did not give any reason for the redeployment.

Also, yesterday, governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed the Government House to console Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the people over the attack.

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who chairs the APC Governor’s Forum led his colleagues from Borno, Kashim Shettima; Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbosola, and deputy governors of Kogi and Yobe states who represented their governors on the condolence visit.

Okorocha and Shettima, in their separate speeches, extolled the matured manner Ugwuanyi handled the Nimbo attack. They said the incident was capable of having negative ripple effects if not for the method the Enugu governor adopted.

Okorocha, who spoke first, said they were at the government house to commiserate with Ugwuanyi and the people of the state over their grief.

“We are here because of the recent ugly incident that took place in Enugu State where many lives were lost.

He praised the manner Ugwuanyi handled the situation and said: “Your government and the people of Enugu State have shown maturity in handling the matter of this level of provocation; in some areas it could have been a different story by now if you had embarked on retaliation.

“We commend you for holding the fort and making sure that this did not degenerate into ethnicity or tribal crisis.”

Also speaking, Borno Governor, Shettima said they were in the state to register their condolences on the recent killings at Nimbo.

“It is our tradition that as compatriots we must mourn with our people  just as we rejoice together in moments of happiness. These are difficult times for our country and it calls for maturity. We are one nation and I want you to sustain that spirit of forgiveness; the Igbo are known for their hard work, enterprise and as very accommodating people.”

Welcoming his colleagues and others to the state, Ugwuanyi said their visit was heartwarming and confirmed that Nigerians all over the country share a common sense of grief and loss with the people of the state over the unfortunate incident at Nimbo.

Other Igbo personalities who were at the visit included the Archbishop of Enugu Anglican Ecclesiastic Province, His Grace, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma; the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Prof Geoffrey I. Onah, and former Information Minister, Chief John Nnia Nwodo (Jnr).