EBONYI: Scores killed by ‘herdsmen’ in Obegu, other communities, Govt condemns attack

SCORES of residents of Egedegede, Obegu and Amuzu communities in the Ishielu Local Government Area of the state were reportedly killed two days ago by suspected herdsmen.

The herdsmen who invaded the communities in the evening were said to be armed with guns, matchetes, knifes and other weapons.

While a resident of the community claimed 18 persons were killed by the herdsmen, another eyewitness said 10.

“We are mourning, we are in serious mourning since late hour of Monday. Herdsmen invaded our communities and massacred our people. As we speak, 18 persons were slaughtered like animals.

They macheted many of our people, burnt vehicles, motorcycles and looted our properties”, the resident was quoted to have said.

He said among those killed was a Priest in the Methodist Church, whose car was equally burnt to ashes.

Governor David Nweze Umahi this morning condemned the senseless attack on people of the communities affected.

In a statement by his Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), issued yesterday, the governor, “expressed sadness over the gruesome murder of defenseless natives by the marauding herders and charged Security Agencies to unravel the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to justice.

“We feel so sad that this kind of thing should happen in Ebonyi state, we feel so worried for our country Nigeria and we are short of words.”

Governor Umahi appealed to the natives to remain calm and shun reprisal attacks while security agencies swing into action to apprehend the culprits.

He also called on “Security Chiefs to fish out this people because they are well known, they should fish them out let them face the wrath of the law. It has happened in so many places and they were not fished out and that’s why this kind of thing is happening.

“I want to appeal to these communities to be assured that we will get them. We have their identities, we have their connections, we have the contact. Please stay calm, don’t take laws into your hands, two wrong can never make a right so that you give us the opportunity to fish them out.” Full statement below.

Chairman of Ishielu local Government Area, Hon. Sunday Eze and Commissioner for Business Development in the state, Dr. Stephen Odo, who hails from the local government, led a team of security agents to the communities and condoled the families of those killed in the invasion, yesterday.

Speaking at the communities, Eze assured the residents that government would take proactive measures to forestall a recurrence.

He also said the invasion would be investigated to ensure perpetrators of such dastardly acts are brought to book.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Loveth Odah, has since confirmed the incident.

“The Commissioner of Police delegated a team of Policemen for on the spot assessment because of peace talks going on in the town. So, the Commissioner of Police delegated them; Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations and others went for on the spot assessment to enable us get the detail of the report. So, they are yet to come back.

“We are still waiting for our men to come back to tell us their findings. I am already preparing a press release on the incident but their report too will assist us in giving you detail information about it”, Odah said.

Governor Umahi has visited Ishielu LGA to ascertain the current situation of the incident and condole with the family of the deceased.

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Full text of Governor Umahi’s statement:

Governor David Nweze Umahi has condemned the senseless attack on the people of Egedegede in Ishielu Local Government Area of the State by suspected herdsmen.

The Governor made the condemnation when he personally visited the Communities on receiving the security information on the matter to ascertain the level of carnages.

The attack which allegedly occured on Monday night led to death of at least 15 residents affecting Nkalaha, Obegu, Amazu, Nkalagu and Umuhuali autonomous Communities.

Governor Umahi experessed sadness over the gruesome murder of defenseless natives by the marauding herders and charged Security Agencies to unravel the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to justice.

“I got a very shocking news this afternoon about the attack on about four communities of Nkalaha, Obegu, Amaezu and Umuhuali in Ishielu local government area of the state by AK-47 wilding herdsmen that came yesterday and killed 15 of members of these communities.

“I remembered that about a year ago, we had incident of killing of two herdsmen within this same location and immediately the security agencies, the local government Chairman and the community leaders all came together to condemn the attack and the killing and we immediately asked the security agencies to fish out the people that did that and they did fish them out and as we talk, they are standing trial in Ebonyi state and the community and security agencies made peace with them.

“And so, it is very shocking that overnight, all the herdsmen in Ishielu local government vaccated the council area which means that the local herdsmen in Ishielu are part of the conspiracy in killing of our people. They vacated despite all efforts my government, the governors of south east and security agencies have been making to protect them.

“We feel so sad that this kind of thing should happen in Ebonyi state, we feel so worried for our country Nigeria and we are short of words.

“Good enough, we have some traces of the sponsors, we have the traces of those who came here. I will not disclose it but I am going to escalate the identities of the people to the highest authorities and we wait to see what they will do but we condemn this attack, it is not only happening in Ebonyi state. If it is allowed to go this way, it is capable of generating very serious civil war among the nation of Nigeria.”

Governor Umahi also appealled to the natives to remain calm and shun reprisal attacks while security agencies swing into action to apprehend the culprits.

“I want to demand from the Security Chiefs to fish out this people because they are well known, they should fish them out let them face the wrath of the law. It has happened in so many places and they were not fished out and that’s why this kind of thing is happening.

“I want to appeal to these communities to be assured that we will get them. We have their identities, we have their connections, we have the contact. Please stay calm, don’t take laws into your hands, two wrong can never make a right so that you give us the opportunity to fish them out.”

Francis Nwaze
Special Assistant to the Governor
(Media and Publicity)
March 30, 2021.