BEVERLY HILLS, April 12, (THEWILL) -At least, four persons have been confirmed killed by unknown gunmen initially suspected to be herdsmen in the early hours of Monday morning.
The attack on Ebele village in Ngbo,Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State came barely two weeks after the same scenario played out on the people of Egedegede community, in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.
Many houses were razed down and several people sustained serious injuries during the attack.
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Mr. Stanley Okoro Emegha, confirmed this to Journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The spokesperson of the Ebonyi State Police Command, Loveth Odah, could not be reached at the time of filling this report.
Also, Mr. Aliyu Garba, the state’s Commissioner of Police, did not pick calls put across to him.
But reacting to the development, the Ebonyi State Government said it received with dismay the reports of violent attacks on the people of Umuogudu Akpu -Ngbo Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Monday.
In a statement in Abakaliki, signed by Dr. Monday Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, the state government said preliminary investigation showed that the attack was not from Fulani herdsmen.
The statement read in part, ”That the attack was not carried out by Fulani herdsmen as being speculated in different quarters.
“That the Government of Ebonyi State is in touch with the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen (Miyetti Allah) who denied involvement in the attack.
“That the Leadership of the Fulani herdsmen has assured the Government and people of Ebonyi State that they will not on any account perpetrate attack on any part of Ebonyi State.”
According to the statement, the recent attack on Ngbo is linked to the age-long crisis between the community and their Agila neighbours of Benue State.
However,the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Barrister Kelechi Igwe, has swiftly responded by directing the military and police to move into the community to repel the attack and restore peace.
“The General Public and in particular the people of Ngbo are requested to remain law abiding and avoid reprisals as the government is working hard to restore normalcy to the affected Community.
“Please be assured of the readiness of the Governor David Umahi-led administration to secure the lives and property of citizens at all times.”
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