By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, has alleged that the recent attack on Ngbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State was done by herdsmen militia hired by the Agila people of Benue State.

Gunmen had two weeks ago attacked the people of Ngbo community, killed not less than 15 persons and razed many houses. While the state government accused Agila people of being the masterminds of the attack, the natives insisted it was carried out by herdsmen.

The people of Ngbo and their neighboring Agila community of Benue State have been enmeshed in intractable communal war that have led to the death of hundreds of people and destruction of property, on both sides.

But Umahi, while briefing Journalists on the outcome of the State security council meeting held on Wednesday at Governor’s conference room, Ochoudo Centenary city, Abakaliki the state capital, said: “We can now confirm as a state that Agila people in Benue state hired the herders mercenaries that came and did the killings in Ngbo.

On the recent killings of security men and civilians, the Governor frowned at the development, and directed the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators within 72hours, even as he appealed to the people to stop killing security agents.

He also directed the security agencies to crack down on all criminal activities in the state.

Umahi further announced the ban on wake keep and social activities beyond 8pm and 6am to check the criminal activities in the state.

He also declared dusk to dawn curfew in Ebonyi border areas beginning from 8pm to 8am, explaining that all movement into and out of Ebonyi within the period is prohibited, and warned that it would be a risk to violate the order.

He also gave seven days ultimatum to all native doctors and traditional medicine dealers in the state to register with government and the police or risk arrest and prosecution.

Umahi said: “We have agreed that effective from today, we are placing curfew on all exit and entrance points to Ebonyi State. All the border entrance, going in and coming out from 8pm to 6am will be enforced. Nobody will be allowed to come inside the state or go out of the state within this period. I’m directing the local government chairmen, security agencies and Ebube Agu to enforce it. And anybody found violating this, is taking a risk. Movement will be allowed within town.

“We are aware there are some killings over the weekend, where a policeman, two army men and one civilian were killed and these people (the culprits) are pure bandits. They do these killings and put it on the social media that they are members of IPOB or ESN. Without standing for either IPOB or ESN that they have continued to deny that they are not into violence.

“For me, criminality is criminality and I have directed the security agencies to crack down on all criminal activities in the state. And for those who did the killings, the security agencies must bring them to book within 72 hours.

“We agreed that there is rampant of fake news in Ebonyi state. Like today, somebody posted that herdsmen are in Ebonyi and that they are killing and schools started closing and people started running helter-skelter. Is that what we are going to continue to tolerate?

“So, I have directed whether you are opposition or in agreement, whatever thing you are; if you post fake news, you should be tracked so that you will be going to court to prove whatever thing you are posting.

"So, my advice to our people is that, if you get any news that you are not sure and can’t defend it, do not circulate it. If you get any news posted to you, and you can’t defend it, do not post, because we are going after the person circulating it. We have already gotten some and we will prosecute them.

“We have directed that all wake keeps in the state must end by 6pm and the local government Chairmen, the security agencies and Ebube-Agu must enforce it. In fact, all social activities must end by 6pm and if you are caught doing otherwise, you will be made to pay a minimum of N1million. Because a lot of criminal activities happen when we allow wake keep going into the night.

“We appeal to our people to stop killing security men in the state and burning down infrastructure of government and killing civilians. There is no agitation in this criminality. Those that killed police in Onueke took the gun and went to Umuoghara in Ezza north to rob killing innocent quarry operators and robbing them of their money.

“Does agitation hold that you must go to Onueke and shot a bank manager and want to rob the bank? It is pure criminality and the state security apparatus must descend on them.

“We have directed that Okada riders must form their own vigilante, because 90% of our security problem is coming from those using okada, and if after seven days they failed to do that we will ban okada operation, especially within the capital city of the state.

“We have a law banning okada from operating in designed areas especially in the dualized roads in the state and that will take effect from today. It has to be reinforced.

“We can now confirm as a state that Agila people in Benue state hired the herdsmen mercenaries that came and did the killings in Ngbo. That is one killing that won’t happen again. We are determined to protect our people.

“Our ban means that night clubs must not operate beyond 6pm. If we don’t convict you if you defile this order on security ground, we will convict you on COVID-19 violation. So, there is no escape.

“We have agreed that all native doctors and traditional medicine dealers must within seven days from today register with the Commissioner for border peace and with the Commissioner for Health and with Commissioner for Police; and there will be an executive order to that effect and anyone that is caught doing otherwise will be arrested and prosecuted.”

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