Shock, grief envelopes Ebonyi following attacks

By John Eche

Shock and grief has enveloped the South Eastern state of Ebonyi following coordinated attacks by suspected herdsmen on defenceless inhabitants of several towns and villages in the Ishielu local government area of the state.

A seemingly traumatised Governor Dave Umahi who had prided himself before now as being one of the foremost enablers of peaceful coexistence between herders and indigenes of the state, if not the entire South East, has now ordered local government chairmen to empower local militias to defend themselves.

This has however not spared him the brunt of vicious attacks by people of the state and other South Easterners who say that his policy of accommodation is indeed partly responsible for the carnage, and that even more than that, that policy was not informed by the overall interest of the people of the state but more in connection with Umahi’s future political interests at the national stage.

On their part, the police say that investigations into the incident that claimed over a dozen lives is ongoing.

The incident has coincided with the absence of the president from the country on medical vacation in the United Kingdom.