By our reporter
Unknown gunmen suspected to be herdsmen in the early hours of Monday allegedly attacked Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local government area of Ebonyi State
The attack took place in Otuebu and Obodo Ocha villages, Umuogodo-Akpu Ngbo community, in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
According to a source from the area said the incident occurred at about 4am, on Monday morning and had caused panic in the area, as natives had left the area for other neighbouring communities, for safety of their lives.
"My brother, it was not a small thing this morning. They have hit our community again. This morning, they burnt down many houses. As soon as they started, I had to move my parents to Okwor area for safety.
"In fact, my father just informed me now that he saw a vehicle carrying a dead body from the area, just passed. One person was killed in the incident.
"They came in into the community and started shooting sporadically and burning down houses. It took the intervention of some of our people who came out to engage them in gun battle.
"We are suspecting Fulani herdsmen. Recently, because of the way they were dealing with farmers in the community, we no longer comfortable with them and we asked them to leave. And two weeks ago, they were sighted in the area around the community. So, they could be responsible for the attack," the source said.
But the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha in a telephone interview who confirmed the attack said investigation was ongoing to unearth the attackers.
According to the Commissioner, "They said is Agila people, but for now nobody can say where the attackers came from. That part of Ngbo has issues with the Agila people of Benue State and so, we are still not certain the people that attacked.
"If it's the Agila people, that means it's a inter-communal issue that has been existing between the Ngbo and the Agila people.
"But if it's herdsmen, then it means we will start tracing where they came from. This is actually what happened in the early hours of this morning and we are investigating it.
"As for the number of death, nobody has told us that any body died. There is no such record yet.
"One of the Commissioners in the state is from there and we have equally called the acting Chairman, some told us three or four persons died. But we are still making findings to figure out if anybody or some persons died."
He added, "Yes, some houses were burnt. Those who we contacted from the place, said there were some casualties.
"But troops of soldiers and many policemen were mobilised and moved to the area as early as 5.30am today and we are making sure that those who attacked the area are fished out.
"They mentioned that three persons died, but we are yet to confirm that. We don't have such record yet , but we are investigating."
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Aliyu Garba, said his men had been mobilised and deployed to the area.
He said, "Yes, I have sent some of my men to the place, but am yet to hear from them. I have not been around, but my men are there . They will soon brief me."
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