Senate condemns attack on Ebonyi community, charges Acting IGP to commence investigation

AFNEWS had reported that unknown gunmen attacked the people of Umuogudu Akpu-Ngbo Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State, in the early hours of Monday.

The attackers started shooting sporadically in the community, killing at least four persons.

Reacting, the upper chamber during plenary on Wednesday urged the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the reoccurring attacks in Ebonyi State by alleged herdsmen.

The upper chamber made the call amid resolutions reached sequel to the consideration of a motion brought to the floor by Senator Sam Egwu (PDP, Ebonyi North).

Egwu who bemoaned the general state of insecurity in the country expressed concern that, "the killing, maiming, kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives and property by herdsmen have now become the daily experience of innocent citizens of Ebonyi State.

"You are ware 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.

"Concerned that if the federal government does not intervene urgently, these wicked and senseless killings, kidnapping and destruction of property may continue, thereby subjecting Ebonyians and other citizens in Ebonyi state to severe hardship and terrific fear", Senator Egwu said.

Speaking also, Senator Michael Nnachi (PDP, Ebonyi South) lamented the number of lives lost to communal clashes between communities and herdsmen.

According to him, the ceaseless killings had made citizens in Ebonyi State to live in fear of being attacked by herdsmen.

"As I'm talking to you, I got a call that nobody slept at Abakaliki in fear of the herdsmen attacking them last night, because they got signal that they were around. All of them ran into their houses.

"Just less than three weeks over thirty-three people were killed by herdsmen; over seven hundred people killed by communal clashes between Benue, Effium and Ezza - which is part of Benue and Ebonyi," he said.

However, the Senate after much deliberation,observed a minute silence in honour of those killed by the alleged herdsmen.

The upper chamber, while urging the federal government and Ebonyi state government to put appropriate measures in place to forestall further attacks, requested the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately intervene through the provision of relief materials to the families of the victims and displaced persons in affected communities.

It also directed the Nigeria Police and other relevant security agencies to carry out comprehensive investigation of these dastardly attacks and to promptly arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, as well as rescue kidnap victims that are still held captive.