By SAMSON NWAFOR, Abakaliki

The people of Ebonyi State have come under heavy attacks from herdsmen militia in recent times, and this is aside the rising communal clashes the state is grappling with, in different parts.

The herders’ attacks have occurred in quick succession in the last three months.

First was at Egedegede community in Ishielu Local Government Area of the State on March 29, 2021, which claimed no fewer than 25 lives, including a Methodist church clergy.

Many houses and other valuable property of Egedegede people were burnt by the herdsmen.

On April 12, 2021, less than two weeks of the Egedegede attack, the herdsmen struck again at Otuebu and Obodo Ocha villages of Umuogodo-Akpu Ngbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state, killing about 12 natives.

The attack took place at about 2am on that fateful Monday morning; Houses, motorcycles, cars and other valuables were razed down.

While the people of Ebonyi State were still mourning these two bloody herdsmen attacks, the marauding herdsmen launched another attack on Ebonyi/Benue border communities, largely occupied by Izzi natives on May 31, 2021, and killed over 60 persons.

Scores of the natives were also injured in the attack that affected Odokem, Nduobashi, and Nwori villages in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.

In the face of these attacks, Ebonyi State government, led by Governor David Umahi, has been bracing up to tackle the challenge.

He has initiated some policies and security measures geared towards tackling this menace headlong.

Ebonyi State has banned open grazing and enacted laws to back it.

The government also banned movement of cattle by foot into the State.

The governor, as part of the outcome of a recent security council meeting, directed Council Chairmen to use vigilance groups in their various LGAs to enforce the state’s law on open grazing.

He further directed that any herdsman found coming into Ebonyi with AK-47 should be confronted.

Umahi said: “We want to put it on record that no herdsman is in Ebonyi State as at now.

“We didn’t ask them to leave. They left on their own; meaning that they were privy to the attacks on Ebonyi state.

“I have been talking to their national leadership to talk to them, that with what is going on in various states, no state governor has control of bandits.

“And because of the killing of defenceless Ebonyi people, they have all left the state for their safety.

“For their safety, they should, please, not return. There is still very high tension among the people who pretentiously speak that they are protecting our people (referring to IPOB’s ESN).

“And, so, we have sent messages to the leadership of Myetti Allah. Please, Ebonyi State is under tension because of these killings and we would want them to still stay out until such a time that it will be safe.

“On open grazing, well, no need talking about that because there is no cow in Ebonyi State now, there is no herdsman in Ebonyi State now, but the position of Ebonyi State government is that we have a law on open grazing.

“And the natives cannot continue to blame security agencies, because security agencies cannot be everywhere.

“So, we are directing the vigilantes to enforce the open grazing law of the state.

“At the national level, the governors have said there should be no open grazing.

“We don’t expect the security agencies to be everywhere, but working with the vigilantes, the local government chairmen should enforce the ban on open grazing any time the healthy herdsmen return. (Sunday Independent)

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