Amaeze community in Ishiagu, Ivo local government of Ebonyi state, weekend, protested killing of a man and his two sons by gunmen believed to be herders.
The deceased, Mr. Ukpai and his sons were said to have been shut dead on Friday when they went to carry sawed wood in his farm land.
The incident was said to have aggravated the community into blocking the highway leading to Abia and Imo states.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, said policemen were deployed to the area to investigate the matter.
“The incident happened on Friday and ones we got the information, we moved in, even as I am talking to you now we are investigating the matter,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the local government, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, said that government has engaged security agencies to investigate and forestall further occurrence.
Also, the member representing Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Nkemkanma Kama confirmed the killings.
He said “I received with great shock news of the recent killings of some farmers in Amaeze community by some unscrupulous individuals, agents of evil, who delights in causing havoc and destructions in the society.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the lawless actions of this reckless individuals.
“I call upon the security agencies, especially the Army and the Police, to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act and bring them to justice. I also call on the security agencies to beef up security around our communities, to enable our people return to their farms, which is our main source of livelihood.
“Let me also plead with my people, not to take justice into their own hands, but allow the security agencies to handle this.
“While we stand united in this time of grief, the only way we can honor their memory is for justice to be served and for us to work toward lasting peace and security for all”.
Also, Amaze community chairman,Ogbonna Nweni, called on the state government to intervene.
” Herdsmen have been destroying our crops, they always leave their cow to eat up our rice, cassava. This has been happening for long and now they have killed our brother who went to carry woods that was sawed for him alongside his two sons.
“We want government to do something to put an end to this mayhem, we can not continue to leave lile this, we don’t want cows or herders in our farm, we don’t want them in our community”.