FromZara Nwachinemere Abakaliki,
Over20 persons were Sunday, butchered in three communities in Ebonyi LocalGovernment Area of Ebonyi State by suspected herdsmen.
Thethree communities are Ndiobasi, Odoke and Obakotara, and they all have commonboundaries with Ardo Local Government Area in Benue State.
However,It was gathered that those attacked were the Ebonyi communities that spilledover to Benue State
Theherdsmen were said to have invaded the communities from Benue State at 3amyesterday.
Manywho sustained matches cuts are currently receiving treatment at FederalUniversity Teaching Hospital Abakaliki 2 (FETHA) and a health centre close tothe scene of the incidents, AMURT.
AMURTissued a post on its social media handle on the matter which reads: “Terriblescenes at Ohagelode Health Centre this morning. An attack on an Izzi villageinside Benue State, allegedly by herdsmen, resulted in manycasualties. Many were carried all the way to Ohagelode HealthCentre.
“TheUloanwu ambulance was called and 11 – six adults and five children – weretransported to AEFUTHA in Abakaliki, Sadly two children already diedafter reaching AEFUTHA. An AMURT team of doctors, led by Dr. Omogo, the MD ofAMURT has rushed to Ohagelode. We are trying to support the woundedcarried to AEFUTHA.”
Aresident of one of the communities, Uchenna Okpokwu claimed that about 30persons were slaughtered in Ndiobasi by the herdsmen.
Policein the state confirmed the attack. The command’s spokesperson DSP Loveth Odahin a press release stated : “To set the records straight, theinformation reaching the command has it that the attack happened at NworiNdobasi and Odoke villages In Ado local government area of Benue in the earlyhours of today.
“Asit were, today is their market day so traders from Ebonyi LGA crossed over tobuy and sale as had been the practice over the years and were caught inthe cross fire during the attack. There was no attack on any village in EbonyiLGA as widely reported on some social media platforms and other conventionalmedia outlets.
“Consequentlythe Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State CP Aliyu Gabar, implores the goodpeople of Ebonyi State and the general public to disregard the news of anattack in a village under Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state and goabout their lawful businesses as the Command has emplaced adequate securitymeasures to ensure the safety of life’s and property’s.
State government promised to take care of the hospital bills ofthe survivors according to the Ebonyi commissioner for Security, Hon. StanleyEmegah.
He maintained that Ebonyians attacked were those who areresident in Ardo local government area of Benue State.
He assured they have beefed up security at the borders to ensurethat the attack doesn’t escalate to Ebonyi communities.
