Bloodbath in Ebonyi and Benue boundary clash -Anguish for the people of Ojiogu and Okpochiri Ukwagba Ngbo.
By Naomisophyblog
It was a time of fear and anguish for the people of Ojiogu and Okpochiri Ukwagba Ngbo in Ebonyi State’s Ohaukwsu Local Government Area, following an alleged attack on them by their neighbours within the boundary area of Benue and Ebonyi States, which left many dead and others injured and missing.
This occurred when gunmen stormed a drinking establishment in Akwuke, Enugu South Local Government Area, Enugu State, and killed a pregnant woman and a vigilante member.
Ebonyi chaos
Aside from the killings, Vanguard has confirmed that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed as a result of the heinous incident in Ebonyi.
According to an eyewitness who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the attackers of Ngbo people in Ebonyi were both Benue indigenes (warlords) and Ezza living within the boundary areas.
“I saw the people who attacked us,” he claims. They were natives of Benue and Ezza. What happened was typical of an annual development bordering on land dispute.
“This conflict is caused by both sides of the divide’s desire for land, particularly for farming.” One person was killed, many others were injured, and many are now displaced.
“It happens every year during the rainy season.” It’s a typical land dispute in the neighbourhood. Many people fled for safety during the incident. Those whose homes were destroyed will now be forced to flee.
“They don’t have a place to go. They will seek refuge at the homes of their brothers, sisters, and in-laws. Benueans banded together to fight the Ngbos. It is what I witnessed on the ground.”
According to the findings of the Coordinator, Ngbo North Development Centre, DC, Echem Onyekachi, seven corpses have been discovered as a result of the incident.
As of now, we have discovered seven bodies, six injured people, and numerous houses and shops that have been burned down in various locations.” Some people are still unaccounted for.
“Previously, we had clashes with the people of Benue State’s Ado Local Government Area.” As a result, this type of crisis always occurs during this time period.
“I believe the Agila people of Benue State are to blame for this crisis.” Anyone who calls Ezza is on his or her own. There is no conflict or crisis between the Ngbo and Ezza peoples. I believe that the Agila people are to blame for this crisis. It is a land-related problem.
“The government should write to the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to request land demarcation between the Ngbo and Agila peoples.” The crisis will worsen unless the government intervenes. It has been over a century. It is higher than my grandfather.”
In addition, Eze Moses Ekpe, Town Union President for Ukwagba Community, told Vanguard over the phone that 15 corpses had been discovered in Ngbo’s affected communities.
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According to him, the search is still ongoing to provide the community with information on the number of casualties and those displaced.
“We notified the Commissioner of Police as well as other government agencies.” Today, the CP sent some officers there. There are far too many victims. We’re still looking. As of now, 15 people have been killed, and many more are missing. Houses were set on fire, and farmlands were destroyed.
“We’re still finding dead bodies, which is why I said we’re still looking.” We want the government to assist us in beefing up security there. The attack was launched by the Ezza people.”
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Clement Odah, condemned it harshly and assured everyone that no stone would be left unturned in uncovering the true circumstances that led to such an unwarranted attack and loss of lives and property.
“The Ohaukwu Local Government Council has received with concern a report of security breaches and an attack on the innocent people of Ojiogu and Okpochiri Ukwagba Ngbo on Monday, June 27, 2022.”
“The council has liaised with appropriate security agents to move into the troubled area immediately, while working tirelessly with the relevant stakeholders to ensure a swift return of peace and normalcy to Ukwagba.”
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to all the affected families and beloved brothers from the affected villages, as well as the entire Ngboejeogu clan.”
“The Council reaffirms our commitment to promote and propagate peace throughout Ohaukwu Local Government Area and in all communities.” The Ebonyi State government, led by our peace-loving governor, has worked tirelessly to restore peace throughout the state, and all hands must be on deck to complete the task of creating a peaceful Ebonyi State where love and unity reign supreme.
“Once again, our people are assured that the government will not rest until total peace is restored in all parts of the Local Government, particularly in the Ukwagba Ngbo community.”
Mr. James Oche, Executive Chairman of Ado LGA in Benue State, described the attack as strange and added, “I completely doubt if our people are involved.”
“There is no crisis in Ebonyi that we are aware of.” This side of the divide has recently enjoyed relative peace. We have complete control over our people, and there is no reason to believe that they have been involved in anything.
“This is strange. This is strange, and I seriously doubt that our people are involved. I’ll contact the security operatives under my command and then contact you. I’d like to state that I’m hearing this for the first time, and I was unaware that there was a problem with border security.”
Several calls to the State Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Aliyu, and the Command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Chris Anyanwu, were not returned at the time of this report.
Gunmen storm an Enugu bar, killing a pregnant woman and a vigilante member.
During the Enugu gunmen invasion, which killed a pregnant woman and a vigilante member, the daredevils also shot a secondary school girl, who is now being treated in an undisclosed hospital.
According to reports, three large gunmen wearing masks stormed the relaxation centre around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and ordered everyone to lie down.
The owner of the joint, who also lives in the compound where he operates the drinking establishment, sensed danger and fled through the back door, but his pregnant wife was not so fortunate, as the men pursued her into her kitchen and shot her dead.
A young man named Nonso, one of the vigilante members, who was having a good time at the joint attempted to flee and was also shot dead.
The pregnant woman’s maidservant, who was also working in the joint, was shot in the leg and is being treated at a hospital.
The gunmen had previously entered a compound within Akwuke and demanded to see another young man, but the man was not at home, prompting them to come for the owner of the drinking joint, Felix Onyia, the immediate past councillor representing Akwuke ward at the Enugu South legislative assembly.
An eyewitness who requested anonymity stated that he witnessed everything live.
“I was there and witnessed everything.” I had asked the woman to prepare the fish, and I was drinking while waiting for it when we heard “lie down all of you.”
“Nwagod Onyia was sitting on the other side with Nonso, the assassinated vigilante.” When they told us to lie down, I dashed into one of the rooms and jumped through the window. They didn’t shoot at me. They shot NwaGod’s wife and Nonso, the vigilante man, I later learned. “They also shot the girl who was working in the bear palour,” he added.
He claimed that only God saved him because he could have been shot. He stated that others who were present at the drinking establishment were not harmed because it appeared that they had come specifically for the former councillor, Hon. Felix Onyia, alias NwaGod.
“The fact that they came straight to his house and shot his wife when he escaped indicates that they came specifically for him,” a local said.
He stated that he had no idea why they came for him, but that something must have prompted the visit of the gunmen who arrived in a vehicle for the attack.
When contacted by phone in the morning, Police Spokesman Daniel Ndukwe demanded a message to allow him to address the issue quickly, but he has not responded as of the time of filing this report, despite hours of sending a message both on WhatsApp and SMS.
“Please send me SMS so that I can address it as soon as possible,” Ndukwe requested.
Source: TVN
