Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is visiting Ebonyi State after the recent reported violence in the State. He is expected to be received and accompanied during his visit to the affected areas by Governor Dave Umahi, a statement from his office said.
Ebonyi has been rocked by killings by Fulani militia as well as communal clashes.
The Number Two man’s visit comes as confusion reigns over the alleged disappearance of 55 suspects arrested in connection with the intra-communal war between Ezza-Effium and Effium clans in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have escaped from custody, sources said on Saturday.
Sources said that only 11 of them out of the total number of 66 were rearrested.
Yet, another source said that the 11 suspects could not escape because they were already old and could not run.
The violence which started on January 22 2021 had led to the destruction of lives and property. Estimates put the death toll at hundreds.
The suspects were allegedly arrested by a combined team of Army and police led by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu when he went for an on-the-spot assesment of crisis in the war-torn community.
A security source said, “The GOC was accompanied by the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe and other security chiefs when they cordoned off Okpoduma village, an Effium enclave where the alleged militias at Uffiom were camped and arrested over 66 of them and handed them over to the police.
“However, drama ensued when on return, the Deputy Governor and the GOC were shocked with the information of the escape of 55 suspects from police custody which threw the entire state into confusion.”
While a source said 11 of the fleeing suspects were rearrested and are currently in their custody, another source said they could not run away because of old age.
At the weekend, President Muhammadu Buhari frowned at other killings in Ebonyi and Anambra States.
Everyday.ng reports that Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State had condemned the attack on some communities in Ebonyi State by Fulani militia, but a civil society group was not impressed with his response.
Umahi expressed sadness over the gruesome attack that erased at least 15 lives, maiming of others destruction of homes and properties.
However, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law described as ‘medicine-after-death’, the visit and ‘mourning’ by Governor Dave Umahi to the scenes of the Monday night attacks, killings and destruction of property against defenseless rural Christian dwellers in Nkalaha, Obegu, Amazu, Nkalagu and Umuhuali Communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Intersociety said that Umahi who visited the affected communities reportedly in mourning mood, is clearly shedding crocodile tears.
An angry Umahi had visited the communities and charged the security agencies to go after the perpetrators in order to bring them to justice.
His words: “I got very shocking news this afternoon about the attack on about four communities in the state.
“We feel so sad that this kind of thing should happen in Ebonyi.
“We feel so worried for our country Nigeria and we are short of words.
“We condemn this attack because it is capable of causing very serious killings, if allowed to continue this way.”
He appealed calm and advised the people not to seek vengeance, assuring that the criminals will be caught.
Intersociety however said Umahi is “a clear case of a Governor who conspiratorially and vicariously signed away personal, collective and territorial security and safety of his own people and put them in present and future dangers by having them handed over to jihadist entities, done in return for being in office as two term Governor of Ebonyi State,” it said in a statement.
The President, according to a statement from his office, strongly condemned the dastardly attack on Monday night.
He directed law enforcement agencies to fish out the attackers and make them face justice, stressing that the perpetrators of this “heinous attack” should not be spared.
The President extends his deepest sympathies to families and friends who have lost loved ones, and to every member of the communities in Ebonyi State traumatised by these despicable acts of wickedness.
He also sent a message of sympathy to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, who survived an attack by gunmen in Aguata LGA of Anambra State as he consulted with people on his political aspiration.
Expressing concern at the influx of illegal weapons, President Buhari reassures Nigerians that ongoing efforts which had led to the record recovery of illegal weapons and arrests of a large number of arms suppliers would be intensified.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack on an outstanding Nigerian, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.
“Our prayers are with him and the families of the security operatives who lost their lives trying to defend innocent citizens assembled for a peaceful meeting.
“We will continue to empower the police and the armed forces in their brave struggle against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping,” the President said
