Governor Dave Umahi cries fowl after suspected Fulani Herdsmen kill his people in Ebonyi community.
At least fifteen people were killed on Monday evening when suspected herdsmen attacked four villages in Ebonyi State.
The attack took place in Umuhuali, Nkalaha, Obeagu, Nkalagu, and Amazu in Ishielu Local Government Area of the southeast state, further raising concerns about the country’s security.
Eyewitnesses say the gunmen were shooting sporadically, killing the victims in different areas of the communities. They equally set ablaze motorcycles belonging to residents of the affected communities.
While expressing sadness over the incident, the Ebonyi governor assured the people that the government will do all within its powers to bring the perpetrators to justice. He also called on security operatives to help in fishing out those behind the heinous crime.
Umahi said, “We are in Ishielu where the AK-47 herdsmen came yesterday (Monday) and killed 15 of the members of this community. I remember a year ago that we had an incident of the killing of two herdsmen within this same location. And immediately, the security agencies and local government chairman and community leaders all came together to condemn the attack and killing and we immediately asked the security agencies to fish out the people who did.
“We fished them out and as we talk, they are standing trial in Ebonyi State. The community, government and security agencies appeased the herdsmen and made peace with them. And so, it is very shocking that overnight, all the herdsmen in Ishielu LGA vacated which means that the local herdsmen are part of the conspiracy of the killing of our people.
“They vacated despite all the efforts that my government and the governors of the South-East and security agencies have been making to give them full protection, not only in Ebonyi State but also in the South-East. We feel so sad, 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,” the governor added. “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.”
