Police confirm 8 killed in fresh attack on Ebonyi community

Eight people have been confirmed killed when suspected assailants from Benue State attacked Ukwagba Mgbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Saturday.

The police made the confirmation on Sunday. However, the state government waved off the possibility of the attackers coming from Benue State, insisting that people in the area are to blame for the attack.

Confirming the attack and the number of casualties, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Loveth Odah, said four of the victims were beheaded.

“The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Awosola Awotinde, top police officers and the Chairman of Ohaukwu LGA, rushed to the scene on receiving information on the incident.

“We were informed by the people that the attackers came from neigbouring Agila community of Benue as they also burnt six houses and killed 20 goats,” Odah said.

According to the PPRO, those beheaded included James Aleke, 55, Innocent Agbo, 65, Chukwu Enwe, 46, and Livinus Idoko, 70.

“The victims whose bodies were still intact are Ngozi Idenyi, 32, Jonathan Onwe, 10, Ify Aleke, 51, and Susanna Ogba, 54, while Okeh Nwankwo, 53, is currently hospitalised.

“The CP urged the people to remain calm and avoid undertaking reprisal attacks as the command will ensure that peace is restored in the area,” she said.

Odah urged the Federal Government to intervene in the matter, saying the situation had deteriorated seriously, while also calling on both state governments to re-double efforts to permanently tackle the issue.

“The attack was last witnessed on Aug.27 when two persons were killed in the community,’’ she said.

The state governor, David Umahi, through his deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, during a visit to the area on Sunday, however, criticised stakeholders in the area for allowing the killings to continue.

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According to him, it was saddening to see considering that six past chairmen of the council hailed from the area, likewise Dr Sam Egwu, the first civilian governor of the state and current senator representing Ebonyi North.

“You should know the people causing trouble in your domains as the traditional rulers should be able to identify those fomenting trouble in the area.

“We are tired of the sentiments coming from this council but seek action because some people wrote undertaking to the state government, to ensure peace,” he said.

The governor, however, directed that all the people who signed the undertaking for the government must produce the perpetrators as they agreed to be held responsible if such event occurred again.

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