‘There will be serious consequences if another attack happens in Ebonyi’, Umahi warns FG

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has urged the Federal Government to do everything within its power to prevent a repeat of the wanton killings that happened in some communities in his state last week.

Umahi warned that there will be grave consequences should Fulani herdsmen attack any community in his state or the South-East region again.

The governor stressed that he might not be able to restrain the youth, in Ebonyi and whole of South-East, from launching a reprisal.

Umahi spoke during the visit of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to Ebonyi State to commiserate with the relatives and friends of people killed at Obeagu, Egedegede and Nkalaha communities in Ishielu in the state.

Umahi said, “Let me as the chief security officer say that there will be serious consequences if another attack happens in Ebonyi State because nobody will be able to hold the youths. Nobody will be able to hold the people and they would have played into the hands of our enemies.

“Please, do everything possible to forestall this since we know them. It is very important that we do everything to forestall any further attack not only in Ebonyi, but in the entire South-East and by extension the country.”

The governor queried, “My question to security agencies all over the country is, are these people spirits? How do they move? Where do they move? In the afternoon we see road blocks especially in South-East; what happens at night?

“How would people travel and kidnap people in Kaduna State and take them to Zamfara State? I believe that the Federal Government should ask these questions. These people did not travel by foot, many kilometres, to come here to kill.

“I have directed vigilant all over to take charge of all the villages and time has come sir for the Federal Government to approve state police because we can’t use our bare hands to face people that have AK-47, it is quite annoying.”

Umahi begged the Federal Government to assist affected communities to alleviate their plights.