...as Operation Whirlstroke military outfit force assailants to withdraw - Oche

...Attack barbaric, Ebonyi Commissioner 

No fewer than 60 persons were killed in Benue State when suspected herdsmen attacked seven Igbo villages in the state, with over 35 others including women and children severely wounded.

The villages attacked included Ataloga, Ndigwe, Obakota, Odokem, Ekile, Nduobasi and Ekpufu.

Sources said that the Fulani attackers infiltrated the area and killed many people in the early hours of the morning, leaving many others seriously wounded.  

The survivors of the massacre are now receiving treatment at the Alex-Ekweme Federal University Teaching Hospital, in Abakaliki, the state capital.

The Chairman of Ado Local Government in Benue State, Chief James Oche, confirmedsaid in a statement that the military security outfit, "Operation Whirlstroke, helped to salvage the situation when we reached out to them, by repelling the attack and forcing the assailants to withdraw."

According to Oche, "In the early hours of Sunday, May 31st, 2021, Fulani herdsmen in their numbers concomitantly attacked several Igbo speaking communities of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, They unleashed an unprecedented degree of terror, killing no fewer than 30 persons as at the time of this release.

"The communities worst hit by the attack are; Ndigwe village, Ataloga village, Odokem, Ekile village, Nduobasi village, Ekpufu and Obakota villages. The residents of these villages have been completely displaced, while others have lost their lives, many are yet to be found and have remained missing. 

"It was the response of the Operation Whirlstroke Military Outfit, after we reached out to them that helped salvage the ensuing massacre by repelling the attacks and forcing the assailants to withdraw. 

"We condemn in strong terms this attack and wish to say, it is one too many an onslaught on our people and the devastation suffered is better imagined. 

"We have a fresh situation of about 3000 internally displaced persons caused by this attack in addition to the 2000 we earlier had from previous attacks.

"While there are insinuations from unsubstantiated sources that the attack was a reprisal for IPOB's alleged murder of a Fulani man, we categorically state with emphasis that, Benue State is not and can never be party to IPOB agitation and attacking our people on IPOB related issues is a thing we would not accept. 

"In view of the ensuing murder of our people by Fulani herdsmen, we urge our people to rise up and take all steps as may be necessary to give (ensure) self defence of themselves, as it would be cowardly to remain arms-folded and be murdered right in our homes. 

"We further appreciate and pledge our loyalty to the Government of Benue State. The Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law of our state stands and we are committed to its enforcement no matter what. 

"We call on the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, as the growing insecurity is fast turning the country into the Hobbean state of nature. 

"We urge our people not to be discouraged, but to rise up to the task in defence our fatherland, as we would continue to support in the best way, time and resources would afford us." 

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Capital City Development, Chief 

Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has described the attack as barbaric and show of savagery and enjoined the people to remain calm but vigilant. 

"Following the attack on the people of Izzi in Benue State by Fulani herdsmen on the early hours of Sunday 30th May 2021, Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi promptly visited the affected villages, same day, to assess the level of damage and sympathize with the victims," he said, describing the attack as worrisome. 

Nwaebonyi expressed regrets over incessant attacks on unarmed and defenceless citizens by marauding herdsmen while the federal government kept aloof, noting that Ebonyi State government under Governor David Umahi was leaving no stone unturned in making sure that the lives and property of residents of the state were protected.

He also, decried what he described as the lackadaisical attitude of the Benue State government and wondered why the Benue State government could not show any concern or action when the people they claim were their own were being massacred and their property destroyed wantonly, even after the carnage. 

According to Nwaebonyi, the incident had clearly shown that Benue State does not accept the people of the area either ethnically or geographically. 

He further noted that, there is a question mark on why the people of Ado and Oju Local Government Areas of Benue State could allow the attackers free access to attack Izzi people and leave after the incident without any hindrance, adding that the whole thing, smacked something fishy.

The Commissioner, however commended the Ebonyi State governor, Chief Dave Umahi, for his quick response and immediate dispatch of relief materials to the affected communities. 

He, also, stated that Umahi took prompt action by accepting the responsibility to defray the medical treatment of those injured in the attack, showing that he recognised that the people were truly Ebonyians. 

Among other well-meaning Ebonyi State stakeholders who have reached out to the victims include the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru and the Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Chinyere Nwoagbaga.