In a tragic incident in Amaeze, Ishiagu Community, within Ebonyi State’s Ivo Local Government Area, a farmer and his two sons were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen while working on their farmland on Friday.

The chairman of Ivo Local Government, Emmanuel Ajah, expressed his shock over the incident in a statement on Sunday.

“It is with sadness that I, Hon. Chief Ajah Emmanuel Ogbonna, the executive chairman of Ivo Local Government Area received the news of the brutal killing of three of my people who went to their farmland for farming activities. Regrettably, this evil act happened to a father and his two sons,” he said.

Ajah condemned the killings as an atrocity, reassuring the community that the local government remains dedicated to protecting residents’ lives and property.

To address the security situation, an emergency meeting was convened with key stakeholders, including military officials, police, the Department of State Services, town union leaders, and other community representatives.

Ajah noted that the meeting focused on strategies to prevent further violence and restore peace in the area.

The full press statement from the LGA chair reads: “It is with sadness that I, Hon. Chief Ajah Emmanuel Ogbonna, the executive chairman of Ivo Local Government Area received the news of the brutal killing of three of my people who went to their farmland for farming activities. Regrettably, this evil act happened to a father and his two sons.

“As it has been in the culture of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Chief Francis Ogbonnia Nwifuru and I, to protect the lives and properties of our people, we want to assure you that we will never relent in doing our duties, majorly to safeguard life. It came as a shock to entertain this sudden attack at a time we least expected it, but as we know, we are mortals, limited in knowledge by many factors, and excuses are far from our dictionary.

“Since yesterday, when the news of the brutal killing broke out, I have never been myself, nor have I slept over the situation. Currently, better solutions are naturally winding up, and I believe they will come to fruition soon.

“Today, 02/11/2024, I had an emergency meeting with the security agencies in the Ivo Local Government Area, including the Divisional Police Office in charge of the Ivo Division, the director of DSS, the army commander, and other sister agencies. Also in the meeting were the various community chairmen and their youth leaders, and the ICDU Executives who came to chat a better way of arresting the situation. In the meeting, we deliberated various means of solving this attack responsibly, and in no distance time, you will see the results.

“I wish to appreciate my people for restoring calmness in our area and for believing in my legacies since I became the local government chairman. I remember last year, a similar issue came up, and with our collective reasoning, we were able to arrest the challenge, and I believe this will not be an exemption.

“Why I would never sleep over this incident is that we don’t know who might be the next victim; needless sleeping over this. I also call on the youths to devote themselves to assist in this challenge for security is our general business.

“I commiserate highly with the Amaeze community, for it is not easy to bear this irreplaceable loss of three lives in just a day and in the hands of marauding herdsmen without a cause. It pains me whenever I see the lives of my constituents cut short, and I would rather resign than not square up to the challenge.

“Conclusively, I strongly vow that the perpetrators of this ugly act shall be brought to book no matter what it might cost the government. We can’t stand to watch herders maim and kill our people like chickens and allow them to be. NEVER!.”

Confirming the incident, spokesperson for the Ebonyi State Police Command, Joshua Ukandu, informed Channels Television that officers are conducting thorough operations in the area to locate and apprehend the perpetrators involved in this heinous crime.

“The incident is confirmed, our officers are conducting operations in the area to fish the perpetrators of this dastardly act,” the spokesperson said.

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