Ebonyi Border: Oha Izhi holds mass burial service for 117 killed by herdsmen

...Shares over 12 million, clothes, food items to bereaved families


BY VICTOR NWEGEDE

Oha Izhi, the apex socio-cultural body in Izhi Nnodo Ekumaenyi Clan has through the Izhi Crisis Management Committee held mass burial service for her 117 people killed by the marauding herdsmen in Nduobashi and other villages of Ndiegu Ishieke Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area, the border part of Ebonyi State with its Benue counterpart.

The event held at Ndugo High School in Ndiegu Ishieke Community in the area on Wednesday 11th August, 2021 was officiated by the Chairman of Izhi Crisis Committee, Rev. Fr. Vincent Odom.

Fr. Odom who condoled the bereaved families for the loss of their lovely ones, advised them to put their trust in God, with courageousness in prayers, hardworking and stronger in unity while combating their challenges.


The Chairman expressed optimism that in no distant time, the people would recover from the condition, assuring them God's unstoppable intervention.

The Secretary of the expanded Izhi Crisis Management Committee, Dr Friday Nkwede with Rev. Fr. James Nwophoke, other Izhi priests and pastors who shared the pallatives to the victims, urged them to be security conscious and always take appropriate action to avert reoccurrence of this kind of incidence.


Interacting with newsmen, the General Secretary of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Dr John Nkwuda also advised the community people not to compromise working to change the negative implications of the ugly incident which resulted into losses of their lovely ones and worthwhile properties.



He however, pledged to sponsor four children, each from one of the four affected villages including Nduobashi, Odeke, Ekpuphu and Obakota to diploma level in his school, Model Institute of Health Technology in Iboko, Izhi Local Government Area of the state.

It could be recalled that the Publicity Secretary of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Apostle Benjamin Obaji, advocated for oneness, solidarity and  peaceful co-existence among the people, charged them to utilize all advice given to them and work harder to assuage the unbearable losses by trusting God.



Apostle Obaji noted that over 117 people from the community were killed by the maurading herdsmen during their merciless attack on Sunday 30th May, 2021.


The Oha Izhi Spokesman also disclosed that "just  a few out of over 92 injuried  people from the community were still in the hospital, whereas others had returned home and equally honoured the event."


Other Executives of Oha Izhi and members of the committee, Chief Mrs Charity Ikebe and Prof Adaeze Nwuzor while speaking on behalf of the female folks, appreciated Oha Izhi, the state government, individuals and different groups who assisted the people at the time of the attack.

Nevertheless, the Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area, Chief Mrs Chinyere Nwogbaga, ably represented by the Coordinator Mbeke Development Centre, Hon Michael Njoku equally thanked the Committee for coming to the rescue of her council people.


Nwogbaga pledged her administration's continuous assistance to the people in order to overcome the scourges of the unfortunate attack.

While giving vote of thanks, the Town Union President of Ndiegu Ishieke Autonomous Community, Mr Joseph Nwidembia, appreciated the committee, the entire Izhi Nnodo clan and the government of Ebonyi State under the watch of Governor David Nweze Umahi for their prompt response and continuous assistance to the affected community by the herders' attack.


The Town President also called for government assistance to enable them to cope academically, health wise, have standard road network and above all, strong internal security outfit in the area.



The event attended by numerous members of the committee including Chief Boniface Ezzagu - First Vice  Chairman Oha Izhi,  Barr Chigozie Nwankwo - President Izhi Lawyers Forum, Prince Andrew Ekpe Nwiga - Assistant Secretary Oha Izhi Nnodo, Rev Dr  Nicodemus Nwakpakpa,  Hon. Solomon Uzoke - Secretariary Izhi Tehu Foundation, among others witnessed large turnout especially the beneficiaries from the community who applauded the gestures.

NATIONAL PANEL reports that at least twelve million Naira (N12, 000, 000) raised by the illustrious sons and daughters of Izhi clans was disbursed to the affected people with clothes, food items and other materials to the victims of the herders' attack to cushion its effects by Izhi Crisis Management Committee under the umbrella of Oha Izhi Nnodo.