TheCable

A least eight persons have been killed in Ukwagba, Mgbo, Ohaukwu local government area (LGA) of Ebonyi state in an attack blamed on armed men from Agila, Benue state.

Loveth Odah, police public relations officer in the state, confirmed the incident, saying 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,” she said.

“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.”

The PPRO gave the names of the beheaded victims as 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,” she said.

“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.”

Odah urged the federal government to intervene in the matter, saying the situation had deteriorated seriously.

She also called on both state governments to re-double efforts to permanently tackle the issue.

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

When he visited the community on Sunday, David Umahi, the governor, said stakeholders in the area had not one enough.

Umahi, represented by Kelechi Igwe, his seputy, said it was saddening to see that six past chairmen of the council hailed from the area likewise 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,” he said.

“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 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.

Clement Odah, chairman of the council, narrated his version of the incident and blamed those that were not happy with his administration for the killings.