How will my 15 children cope, asks woman whose husband was killed in Ebonyi clash

A 35-year-old woman, whose husband was killed during a clash involving residents of Azuoffia-Edda community in Abakaliki local government area of Ebonyi state, has lamented the effect of the loss of the breadwinner of the family.

At least four people were killed while some houses, destroyed after people from three communities in neighbouring state of Cross River invaded Azuoffia-Edda.

Emma Anya, spokesman of Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, quoted the bereaved woman as saying her husband was going to harvest their farm produce when he met his assailants.

“They killed him. He was going to harvest produce early that morning when they accosted him. Now, how am I going to cope with the 15 children I have for him?” she reportedly said.

During a condolence visit to the community, Umahi described the onslaught on Azuoffia-Edda residents as “man’s inhumanity to man”.

Umahi told the villagers, who converged on the Azuoffia-Edda Primary School III, that he was surprised that the attack still took place after a peace process between the two neighbouring states had commenced.

He said his administration would collaborate with the federal government to find a solution to the problem.

“I’m so sad today and want of speech for this man’s inhumanity to man. It’s so disheartening that this kind of thing will be happening in our society. It’s so shocking,” he said.

“We shall work extra miles and extra hard with the presidency with national boundary commission, security agencies and the governor of Cross river state to see how we can quickly resolve this problem.”

J.O.J. Oketa, special assistant to the governor on inter party dialogue, whose house was damaged in the violence, said seven out of the eight villages in Azuoffia Edda were attacked.

While, Peter Nwaogbaga , chairman of Abakaliki, said apart from the people killed, three others were kidnapped.

The government of Cross River is yet to comment on the attack.