From Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki
No fewer than 15 people in Ukwagba Ngbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State were yesterday confirmed killed, many declared missing, and property worth millions destroyed when gunmen attacked the area.
Sources in the area, who confirmed the attack to journalists in Abakaliki, accused their Agila neighbours in Ado local government area of Benue state of carrying out the deadly attack.
The Coordinator of Ngbo North Development Centre, Echem Onyekachi, confirmed the incident yesterday. He, however, said only seven bodies had, so far, been discovered following the incident.
“As of now, we have discovered seven bodies, six injured persons and so many houses and shops were burnt down in many places. Some people are still missing.
“Before now, we have been having clashes with the people of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. So, it is always during this period that this kind of crisis usually occurs.
“I suspect that this attack was caused by Agila people in Benue State. Anybody calling Ezza is on his or her own. Ngbo People and the Ezzas do not have any dispute or crisis. I believe that this crisis is caused by Agila people. It is an issue bordering on land.
“Government should write to the National Boundary Commission (NBC) for land demarcation between Ngbo and Agila people. Without government intervention, the crisis will continue. It has been over 100 years. It is above my grandfather.”
But, the President, Ukwagba Community, Eze Moses Ekpe, said over 15 bodies had, so far, been discovered in the affected communities of Ngbo.
He said the search was still ongoing to enable the community to get complete details of the number of casualties and those displaced.
“We have alerted the Commissioner of Police and other government agencies. The CP sent some policemen there today. There are too many victims. We are still searching. For now, 15 people were killed, while many are missing. Houses burnt and farmlands destroyed.
“We are still discovering dead bodies and that’s why I said, we are still searching. We want the government to help us beef up security there. The attack came from Ezza People.”
Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Clement Odah, in a statement condemned the incident and called for calm.
When contacted, Chairman of Ado LGA of Benue State, James Oche, described the development as strange, insisting that his people did not have anything to do with the attack.
As at the time of this report, several calls made to the phone lines of the State Commissioner of Police, Garba Aliyu, and the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chris Anyanwu, were not responded to.