The Benue State Government has refuted a statement credited to the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi indicting the Agila people of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State for the Monday, April 12th attack on Umwuagodo-Akpu community of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in which an unspecified number of people were allegedly killed.
A statement by the Deputy Governor/chairman boundary committee, Benson Abounu, said while he sympathizes with the victims and families of those affected in the gruesome attack, it is important to state that there is no evidence linking the Agila people of Benue State with the offence.
He expressed shock at the attempt by the Ebonyi State Governor to change the narrative and find scapegoats for an action everyone, including the survivors themselves said was carried out by Fulani herdsmen.
He recalled that the said attack first occurred, even without any form of verification, and against the avalanche of evidence that it was carried out by Fulani herdsmen, Governor Umahi had hurriedly accused Agila people of responsibility.
“Two weeks after, in order to validate his earlier assertion, Governor Umahi is laying blame on the Agila people even as he has accepted that the attack was actually carried out by Fulani herdsmen. He now says that the herdsmen were hired by Benue people. Even a gullible public will find this difficult to swallow.”Abounu added.
He insisted that victims of the attack had categorically identified herdsmen as the attackers nonetheless the Governor still went ahead to accuse the Agila people who convincingly absolved themselves of the atrocity.
The Statement went further to raise some salient questions such as, “How did he come about the statement that the Agila people hired the Fulani herdsmen killers? Where is the evidence supporting the claim that Agila hired the herdsmen’s attackers?
He recalled that when news of the attack broke and the Governor cast aspersion on the Benue side which made him as Benue Deputy Governor and Boundary Committee Chairman, engage his Ebonyi counterpart to investigate the unfortunate incident.
He maintained that their findings did not support the claim that Agila people either directly attacked or masterminded the attack on Umuogodo-Akpu of Ebonyi State.
“I believe that it is now pertinent to request the Governor of Ebonyi State to make available all evidence, if any, of Agila’s involvement in the said attack. Otherwise, we in Benue will have no choice but to conclude that the Governor’s unfounded claim amounts to inciting his people against Agila people and by extension Benue State.
Moreso, as the Governor in his press briefing after the State Security meeting, presented a cheque of N40m to Umuogodo-Akpu people to settle the victims and to enable them to form “vigilante”.
This, in our view, is dangerous coming from the Governor of a State. We will therefore demand that Governor Umahi takes a second look at the whole saga in order to properly address the unfortunate event.” The statement added.