By Victor Nwegede
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON in Ebonyi on Wednesday declared a total ban on opening grazing in every locality following the Egedegede killings in Ishielu council area of the state.
The Association led by Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku - the Chairman of Ohaozara LGA in the state, also issued 72 hours ultimatum to the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the ugly act in the state.
Addressing Journalists in Abakaliki, the Spokesman of the Association who is the sitting Executive Chairman of Izzi LGA, Chief Paul James Nwogha decried the defenseless killings in the area, saying the incident is saddening.
Nwogha said that the grassroot leaders in Ebonyi State including the 13 LGA Chairmen and 64 Development Centre Coordinators have met and arrived at the decisions.
He said: "With tears we present to you the press and general public, what happened in the three communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Monday this week.
"It is totally condemnable, where over 25 persons were killed in some communities of Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by suspected herdsmen.
"During our meeting today, we condemned in its entirety the unprovoked killing of innocent people.
"Nothing on Earth, will excuse the unwarranted attack levelled against our people.
"And we want to tell the general public, that it is fortunate, because in Ebonyi State, we have been living and co-existing peacefully without differences.
"And that's the credit we give to the governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi because he has been piloting it.
"But surprisedly, what we are paid back for the peace given, is the killing of our innocent people.
"We condemn with strong words that from today henceforth, we support the law against open grazing in Ebonyi State.
"If you want to operate open grazing in Ebonyi State, you should be ready to meet with us, because both the Development Centre Coordinators and the LGA Chairmen of this state are already on watch to make that what happened in Ishielu does not repeat itself.
"Again, we want to state it categorically that the security agencies despite their trials have not done enough and they should do more than what they did.
"One, by providing security to our people living in different localities, to make sure such that happened on Monday does not repeat itself, and we give them seventy two (72) hours to make sure that who perpetrated that ugly act were arrested, tried and give justice to the victims."
While appealing to the people living in different localities of the state, the ALGON Spokesperson urged them to remain calm to enable the security agencies concentrate and carry out their duties as charged.
He further stated that the Association is not against any body in Ebonyi State and strongly calling for the protection of lives and properties of the innocent citizens.
"We are not against anybody in Ebonyi State but what we are all speaking for is to protect our people.
"And we say anybody who has the intention of coming to destroy the Governor of Ebonyi State from today henceforth, is going to meet the highest resistance whatsoever," he said.
Clarifying on the disparity of the death tolls from our sources, the ALGON Mouth-piece said that, "as at yesterday, the number was different of what the governor quoted but this afternoon, some corpse were still discovered and that is why the number of the death victims have been increased."
The Association led by Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku - the Chairman of Ohaozara LGA in the state, also issued 72 hours ultimatum to the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the ugly act in the state.
Addressing Journalists in Abakaliki, the Spokesman of the Association who is the sitting Executive Chairman of Izzi LGA, Chief Paul James Nwogha decried the defenseless killings in the area, saying the incident is saddening.
Nwogha said that the grassroot leaders in Ebonyi State including the 13 LGA Chairmen and 64 Development Centre Coordinators have met and arrived at the decisions.
He said: "With tears we present to you the press and general public, what happened in the three communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Monday this week.
"It is totally condemnable, where over 25 persons were killed in some communities of Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by suspected herdsmen.
"During our meeting today, we condemned in its entirety the unprovoked killing of innocent people.
"Nothing on Earth, will excuse the unwarranted attack levelled against our people.
"And we want to tell the general public, that it is fortunate, because in Ebonyi State, we have been living and co-existing peacefully without differences.
"And that's the credit we give to the governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi because he has been piloting it.
"But surprisedly, what we are paid back for the peace given, is the killing of our innocent people.
"We condemn with strong words that from today henceforth, we support the law against open grazing in Ebonyi State.
"If you want to operate open grazing in Ebonyi State, you should be ready to meet with us, because both the Development Centre Coordinators and the LGA Chairmen of this state are already on watch to make that what happened in Ishielu does not repeat itself.
"Again, we want to state it categorically that the security agencies despite their trials have not done enough and they should do more than what they did.
"One, by providing security to our people living in different localities, to make sure such that happened on Monday does not repeat itself, and we give them seventy two (72) hours to make sure that who perpetrated that ugly act were arrested, tried and give justice to the victims."
While appealing to the people living in different localities of the state, the ALGON Spokesperson urged them to remain calm to enable the security agencies concentrate and carry out their duties as charged.
He further stated that the Association is not against any body in Ebonyi State and strongly calling for the protection of lives and properties of the innocent citizens.
"We are not against anybody in Ebonyi State but what we are all speaking for is to protect our people.
"And we say anybody who has the intention of coming to destroy the Governor of Ebonyi State from today henceforth, is going to meet the highest resistance whatsoever," he said.
Clarifying on the disparity of the death tolls from our sources, the ALGON Mouth-piece said that, "as at yesterday, the number was different of what the governor quoted but this afternoon, some corpse were still discovered and that is why the number of the death victims have been increased."
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