Mayhem and unrest on Saturday rocked the Ishiagu community in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as over 1,000 women protested the killings and kidnapping of relatives by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the area.
The protest, which had lingered for four days, resulted in the setting ablaze of the palace of the monarch of Ishiagu kingdom, Eze Moses Ngele, by hoodlums who allegedly hijacked the protest.
It was gathered that the house and car, including other valuable properties of the Ivo LGA chairman, Emmanuel Aja, were attacked by the rampaging protesters.
Investigation revealed that the women protesters barricaded Amaeze road and other entrances to the community, demanding that the state government and security agencies should arrest and prosecute the killers and kidnappers of their relatives, which have persisted for a long time.
An eyewitness told journalists, “Women of Ishiagu community staged protest since early hours of yesterday, and till this present time, it’s still ongoing.
“They are protesting the incessant killings and kidnapping along Amaeze road by unknown gunmen. As I speak with you, there’s a total breakdown of laws and order.”
He continued: “The house and vehicles of the local government chairman of Ivo was attacked. Also, the King of the community, Agu III of Ishiagu kingdom was also attacked. And, the women are chanting threat songs, that they’re not comfortable with their big men in the present government.”
Aja, when contacted, confirmed the incident, lamenting the level of destruction of valuable properties belonging to Eze Moses Ngele, including his house and vehicles that were destroyed in the process.
According to him: “we have a problem in a bus stop called Ejiukwu, a place where Fulani herdsmen use to come and kidnap our people, and sometimes kill them. I have complained to DSS, the Commissioner of Police, and OC Nkwagu military cantonment are aware of it.
“The Fulani herdsmen are living in our bush and terrorizing our people. We want them (security) to raid the bush, so this will stop.
“I left my house in the morning to meet with the OC Nkwagu military cantonment; I was there when they called me that some women have turned the peaceful protest that started some days ago, into a riot.
“The women who are agents of other political parties in the state hijacked the peaceful protest; they went to the palace of our Eze-Ogo and burnt his properties.
“As I was there talking to the OC Nkwagu military cantonment, they informed me again, that the protesters are already in my house. They destroyed some properties and my cars including house there,” he stated.
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