Fulani herdsmen, yesterday, denied attacking Ebele village in Umuogodo Akpu Ngbo community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
This was contained in a release issued in Abakaliki by Monday Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe.
It was reported that unknown gunmen, yesterday attacked Ebele village in Umuogodakpu Ngbo community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. It is not yet confirmed if anyone was killed during the attack at the time of filing this report.
A source from the village alleged that the attackers invaded the village and burnt down many houses, while some of the villagers sustained various degrees of injuries.
The state Commissioner of police, Aliyu Garba, said he has deployed policemen to the area to quell any possible breach of peace and to forestall any break of law and order.
But the deputy governor said the attack was a result of aged- long crisis between the people of Agila in Benue State and Ngbo community of Ebonyi State.
The statement reads: “Ebonyi State Government has received with dismay violent attack on the people of Umuogudu Akpu -Ngbo Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State in the early hours of Monday, 12th April, 2021.
“The General Public is hereby informed that preliminary, investigations have indicated as follows: “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 Government and people of Ebonyi State that they will not on any account perpetrate attack on any party of Ebonyi State.
“That 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 His Excellency Barr Eric Kelechi Igwe PhD 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 reprisal as government is working hard to restore normalcy to the affected Community.
“Please be assured of the readiness of the Governor David Nweze Umahi led administration to secure the lives and property of citizens at all times.
Recall that four communities in Ishielu local government of Ebonyi state, were recently attacked by herdsmen, leading to the death of over 20 persons and destruction of properties.
The development prompted the State Government, Wednesday, to make arrangement for the inauguration of 1000 vigilante groups across the 13 local government areas that make up the State.
The vigilante groups would ensure security of lives and properties in the rural areas.