In a statement released by Monday Uzor, his Chief Press Secretary, the deputy governor said preliminary investigations showed that the attack was not carried out by Fulani herdsmen as being speculated in different quarters.

The statement in part reads “Ebonyi State Government has received with dismay violent attack on the people of Umuogudu Akpu-Ngbo Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Monday. Preliminary investigations showed that the attack was not carried out by Fulani herdsmen as being speculated in different quarters. The Government of Ebonyi State is in touch with the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen (Miyetti Allah) who denied involvement in the attack. Also, the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen has assured the Government and people of Ebonyi State that they will not on any account perpetrate an attack on any part of the state. More so, the recent attack on Ngbo is linked to the age-long crisis between the community and their Agila neighbours of Benue State”

According to the governor, he and some of his aides had the test carried out on them and the result came back positive. He said presently they are not showing any symptoms but have since gone into isolation in line with protocols laid down by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

He has asked the Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, to take over the frontline coordination of the state’s fight against the pandemic to protect Ebonyi people. He appealed to residents of the state to take the NCDC protocols more seriously while stating that he’s working from home and will conduct all meetings virtually.