Ebonyi deputy speaker, Onah, Ngboejogu community debunks alleged attack of Agila traders by youths

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

The deputy speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly,Chinedu Onah representing Ohaukwu South constituency, and the Ngbo leaders council on Wednesday debunked the alleged attack of Agila traders at Okwo-ngbo market by youths of the area. In their separate reactions, the deputy speaker, Onah who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki, said there was no attack on Agila traders at the Okwo-ngbo market, rather: "It was just a mere speculation, because I was at the Okwo-ngbo market that day. "It was a mere misunderstanding between an Agila guy that was not identified by our people who were masquerading" he stated. Similarly, the Ngbo leaders Council in a statement signed by the President and Secretary General, Mr. Okeh C. Okeh, Mr. Emmanuel Etu Odo, and Mr. Cyril Obazi who is the chairman, Ngbo/Agila Inter-community Peace and Reconciliatory Committee, and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, said that there was no attack or disruption of business activities in the Okwo-ngbo market. Aljazirah Nigeria reports that Ngbo people in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Agila in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State have engaged in a communal war for the past one hundred and two years, leading to loss of hundreds of lives and properties worth billions of naira. It was gathered that the leadership of the two communities; Ngboejogu and Agila, local and state governments of the affected areas has resolved to drop their weapons of war and embrace peace, and had signed a peace accord on 18th November, 2023. The statement reads in part: "Ngbo youths did not attack Agila youths in Okwo Ngbo Market, there was no disruption of the day's business activities in the market. "The two inter-state neighbours dropped their weapons of war and embraced peace totally, on 18th November, 2023. Since that day, Ngbo and Agila people have been visiting each other, selling and buying in same market and sleeping over without fear of any attack or molestations. Ngbo leaders council, equally expressed bitterness over a recent publication, that alleged that Agila traders was beaten by youths at Okwo-ngbo, adding that: "The report was baseless, unfounded and deceitful. The Ngbo Leaders Council views this report seriously, considering the sensitivity of the issue falsely reported and the time it came. "we call on the general public, especially our Agila neighbours, to discountenance the unfounded publication and go about their normal businesses which include buying and selling in Okwo Ngbo Market" the group stated.