…As Senate wants end to killings in Ebonyi, others
By Ignatius Okorocha
Disturbed by incessant killings and invasion of communities and some government institutions in parts of the South East geopolitical zone, Senator representing Ebonyi Central in the Senate ,Senator Obina Ogba has warned that no amount of crisis can deter the Igbos from producing the next president.
This was as the Senate on Wednesday called on the Federal government to put appropriate security measures to end incessant killings in Ebonyi state and other parts of the he South East geopolitical zone.
Sen. Ogba who was fielding questions from journalists on the reoccurring invasion of parts of Ebonyi state, said he was aware of the plot by some disgruntled elements in the country to overrun the zone with crisis with a view to discourage the south East from producing the next president.
He said,”Well,this war can not stop us from producing president of Igbo extraction in 2021 election. There has been similar crisis to in other parts of the country and it didn’t stop them from producing the president.
“So, this current killings in the zone can not stop us from contesting and producing a president of Igbo extraction for this country. It can not stop us. Nobody should hide under the lingering insecurity in the zone to stop the Igbos from producing the next president. It is the turn of the South East to produce the president,if they want Nigeria to remain one.”
Continuing the lawmaker said,”We have never witnessed this kind of killings in the South East geopolitical zone before now. You go to bed and sleep with your two eyes closed but today you hear that somebody will be sleeping and strange elements will come to kill and raze his house down.
“Some of these crises are generated by individuals and the individuals are known yet such characters are moving about freely without anybody arresting them. So, I felt I should raise the motion so the the federal government can come to our rescue.”
Meanwhile,in his motion tagged , incessant killings in Ebonyi state, Sen. Ogba had expressed concern that, “the killing, maiming, kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives and property by herdsmen have now become the daily experience of citizens and defenseless people of Ebonyi state who are murder in their numbers almost on weekly basis.”
“Aware that on 30th day of March, 2021, over 18 indigenes of Egedege, Obehi and Amuzu communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, including a priest, were gruesomely murdered in cold blood by rampaging herdsmen.
“Alarmed that on Monday the 12th day of April, 2021, alleged herdsmen/Agila people again invaded Otuebu, Igidi Obu and Ndiagu Ibe-Agba villages in Umuogudu Akpu community, Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State and gruesomely killed over 12 innocent indigenes, burnt/destroyed over 56 houses and kidnapped five persons…..”
Consequently, the senate urged the Nigerian Police and other relevant security Agencies to carry out comprehensive investigation of these attacks with a view to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of the dastardly act.
It also mandated the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) to provide enough relieve materials to all the displaced victims of the communal crisis in the affected areas.
