BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A Group, Amalgamated Ngboejeogu Youths, natives of Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has accused the Ebonyi State Government of taking sides with Fulani herders.
The group insisted that fulani herders were responsible for the attack on its people and frowned at the alleged attempt by the state government to twist the story to serve political interests.
A press statement co-signed by the Group’s President-General and Secretary,
Uche Ali-Ega and Samuel Okpor, respectively, said the attacks mostly affected four villages in Umuogudu Akpu Community axis of Ngbo clan, namely: Ebele Umugadu, Otuebu Umugadu, Ndiegu Ibe-Agba and Odebo.
The group also alleged that the Fulanis were visibly sighted and heard by many survivors.
It said, whereas search was still being conducted in the affected areas to ascertain the level of damage and deaths recorded, over 12 lacerated lifeless bodies had been recovered while the whereabouts of many persons were still unknown.
Members of the Group said they found it difficult to comprehend the reason behind the hasty conclusion of the Ebonyi State Government in exonerating the Fulani herdsmen from the brutality.
The statement read in part, “Arising from an emergency meeting after an on-the-spot assessment of the dastardly, unprovoked, senseless and deadly massacre in Umuogudu Akpu autonomous Community of Ngbo nation, which claimed many lives, left many wounded and scores of houses and other property burnt and utterly destroyed; the Amalgamated Ngboejeogu Youth wishes to state the following:
“That the Fulani herdsmen numbering over one hundred, armed to the teeth with most sophisticated weapons at the early hours of Monday 12th April, 2021 invaded, maimed and unleashed an unimaginable terror on the people of Ngboejeogu from the Umugadu Umuogudu Akpu axis.
” That the gruesome attacks led to the horrific deaths of so many known citizens of Ngboejeogu.
“That the attacks mostly affected four villages in Umuogudu Akpu Community axis of Ngbo clan namely: Ebele Umugadu, Otuebu Umugadu, Ndiegu Ibe-Agba and Odebo. That the Fulanis were visibly sighted and heard by many survivors.
“That the language they spoke was no other than fulfulde, the Fulani known language and their looks (appearances) and modus operandi were still same with that of Fulanis.
“That phone calls made to the mobile phones belonging to some of the slain victims were received by the attackers who spoke fulfulde language with heavy Fulani accent.
“That we condemn in strong terms the barbaric acts of the heartless Fulani attackers. That while we acknowledge the presence of security agencies who came to intervene in the ugly situation, we frown at any attempt by any individual, group or government to twist the story to serve any political and or economic interests.
“That we find it difficult to comprehend the interest it serves and the reason behind the hasty conclusion of the Ebonyi State Government in exonerating the Fulani herdsmen from perpetrating the brutality. If mere denial of involvement is enough criterion to determine who was involved in the horrendous act and who was not as postulated by the Ebonyi State Government via their Press Release on the 12th of April, 2021, we wish to ask, now that the Ado Local Government Area Chairman of Benue State has debunked the allegation of their involvement in the attack. Can the Ebonyi State Government tell the world who attacked Ndu Ngbo on the 12th of April, 2021?
“That the hasty Press Release by the Ebonyi State Government with its unverified facts is nothing short of taking side with the Fulani attackers against Ngboejeogu clan.
“That we were shocked that unlike the prompt action of government which included visitation, provision of relief materials, encouragement and consolation of affected persons before press statement in the case of Egedegede of Ishielu Local Government Area where the Fulanis also attacked recently, the State Government did not care to send any of its officials even if it’s a Technical Assistant, to visit the scene of the attacks in Ngbo, make an on-the-spot assessment of the terror before going to the press.
“We then ask, where, when and how did the government conduct the said investigation that led to the preliminary report and conclusion?”
