Fulani herdsmen have attacked and slaughtered more than 30 persons in Ndiobasi and Obakotara communities, an Ebonyi community in Adọ local government area of Benue State.
Community sources said the herders raided the communities at about 3: am on Sunday.
The affected communities are an Izzi speaking community of Ebonyi but carved into Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.
It was gathered that there were earlier warnings of herdsmen attacks but no actions were taken to prevent them.
Chinyere Nwaogboga, the Chairman of Ebonyi local government area while confirming the incident said she went to the area and helped to evacuate many of the residents from the area to hospital.
“Yes, the communities are Izzi(a clan in Ebonyi) speaking communities but they are geographically located in Benue. Since they are indigenes of Ebonyi though located in Benue, the State governor directed we go and bring them to hospital and treat them and also give them relive materials”.
She said more buses have been sent to the area by the local government, Ebonyi Speaker and the State Government to evacuate more victims.
Also, Stanley Okoro Emegha, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Internal Security, Border Peace & Conflict Resolution said the affected communities are not in Ebonyi.
He the State Government has observed with dismay the invasion of Nwori Ndi-Obasi Village in Ado LGA of Benue State.
According to him, the incident was perpetrated by suspected herders who ruthlessly attacked unsuspecting inhabitants of the village killing, maiming and had burnt down several houses.
He said that the concern of the State Government is however heightened against the backdrop that the victims of the attack in the affected village are predominantly made up of people of Izzi extraction in Izzi LGA who are indigenes of Benue State.
“To forestall possible spill-over of the attack to the neighboring villages of Okwofuruike, Odoke and Ohabuleodo respectively, in Izzi and Ebonyi LGAs, Ebonyi State Government effectively mobilized and dispatched a combined team of Security Agencies and members of Ebubeagu Security Outfit to ensure that peace and normalcy is restored in the troubled area”.
He added that the State Government has equally taken necessary steps with a view to settling the hospital bill of survivors of the attack with different degree of injuries who are currently hospitalized at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki and Sudan Mission Hospital, Onuenyim Izzi while the Governor of Ebonyi State has directed for the immediate distribution of relieve materials to the bereaved families and displaced victims.
“Therefore, the good people of the neighbouring villages of Okwofuruike, Odoke and Ohabuleodo in Izzi LGA are enjoined to remain calm as the Ebonyi State Government is not only on top of the situation but is committed to safeguarding lives and property of citizens of the state”.
