Governor Umahi
Ebonyi Govt denies alleged involvement of Fulani herders in killing of teenage girl
From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki
Government of Ebonyi State has denied insinuations that Fulani herders were responsible for the killing of a teenage girl at Agbebor village in Isu community, Onicha LGA of the sate.
A statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Uchenna Orji, on Thursday, said contrary to the claims circulating in social media that Fulani Herders were responsible for the gruesome murder of the girl, the community had not seen anything linking her death with the Fulani Herdsmen, moreso as there is no Herders’ camp in the area
Orji, however said the State government condemned the incident, but stated that it was wrong to make a hasty conclusion that Fulani Herders were responsible.
The statement said the unfortunate incident was the handiwork of yet to be identified criminals who attacked and killed the deceased on her way, through a track road, back from where she went to process cassava, but disclosed that the community together with the security agencies had declared manhunt on the perpetrators.
Orji said: “Our attention has been drawn to a trending social media post over a young girl found dead in a village in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on the 25th day of July,2022 and the impressions created over the circumstances of her death.
“While the State Government condemns the ugly incident as unacceptable brutal murder of an innocent citizen by heartless criminals, it is imperative to note that contrary to the claims circulating in social media that Fulani Herders were responsible for her gruesome murder, the community has not seen anything linking her death with the Fulani Herdsmen, moreso there is no Herders’ camp in the area
“The unfortunate incident is the handiwork of yet to be identified criminals who attacked and killed the deceased on her way, through a track road, back from where she went to process cassava at Agbegbor village in Isu community, Onicha Local Government Area. The community together with the security agencies has declared manhunt on the perpetrators. The State Government sends her condolences to the victim’s family and assures them that government will not leave any stone unturned in unmasking the killers of the young girl.”
On another development, the State Government said “it notes with dismay that some enemies of progress have desperately resorted to peddling fake news against the State and twisting happenings to discredit the noble cause of the State Government. A case in point is one group who claimed to be working under a charitable organization called Budgit Foundation who circulated in different social media platforms a false story captioned’ *SHOCKING! Hut for rearing goats converted to maternity, immunization home in Ebonyi’*. This fake post was made with manipulated pictures with the intention to bring the State to public disrepute.
“For the records, there is no ‘goats hut’ or goats pen converted to maternity home in any part of Ebonyi State at all. The facility being referred to by the mischief makers is a primary health care facility built in Ebonyi Local Government Area and which had been in use right from the era of the previous administrations before the current administration came on board and built more primary health care facilities across the State.
“Ebonyi State Government under *His Excellency Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi FNSE FNATE* is known for its laudable efforts in the establishment of primary , secondary and tertiary health care facilities that conform with the world best standards as envisioned in his plan to make Ebonyi State the medical tourism of the nation.
“Members of the public are urged to discountenance all those fake news and dummies being circulated in social media by faceless political jobbers. The State Government is committed to bequeathing enviable legacies in infrastructure and human development and the manifestations are loud and clear.”
