Robbers have vandalised the Ezillo water scheme in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and carted away property worth millions of naira from the facility.

The robbers also shot local vigilante members who were guarding the facility.

The traditional ruler of Ezillo community, Innocent Chima, condemned the incident, describing it as unfortunate.

He said the incident undermined the progress being made by the state government in the water sector to ensure water supply to the people and vowed that the culprits must be apprehended.

Chima called for stronger security reinforcement from security agencies in the state to bolster the efforts of the local Ezillo vigilantes, who remain on the front lines of government facility protection.

“We will not fold our arms while a few lawless individuals destroy what belongs to everyone,” he stated.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Magnus Nkah, who visited the facility, stated that he received a distress call on the incident.

He emphasised that the shooting of personnel and the theft of state assets necessitate a new level of cooperation.

The commissioner stressed the need for effective collaboration with community leadership to ensure a secure environment, adding that the shooting of security guards and theft of state assets necessitate a new level of cooperation to ensure robust security networks in the area.

“We must work together to protect our infrastructure and ensure the safety of our people,” he emphasised.

The Chief Security Officer of the community, Chief Emeka Ogbonna, pledged the community’s commitment to ensuring the protection of government facilities in the area and vowed that the culprits must be brought to justice. (The Sun)