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Over 30 houses have been destroyed in pre-election related violence in some communities in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The two major political parties in the state, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, have continued to trade blames over the political violence in the state.

This is even as Commissioner of Police in the state, Awosola Awotunde, yesterday, in Abakaliki, appealed for calm over the attacks allegedly carried out by suspected thugs in some communities. Awotunde, who spoke to journalists after his assessment visit to areas affected by the violence, vowed that police authorities would ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly acts were arrested and brought to book.

Condemning the attacks and destruction of over 30 houses and property worth millions of naira in communities in Izzi Local Government Area, the police commissioner described the incident as barbaric and man’s inhumanity to man. He said: “We appeal for calm and assure the public that police will spare no efforts in ensuring that everyone who is involved in the dastardly act is brought to book including their sponsors.

‘’The police further reassures the public of commitment to the protection of lives and property of every citizen of the state before, during and after the elections,’’ Awotunde said. Narrating his ordeal, a victim of the attack, Mr Donatus Nwofe, who spoke to journalists at Aguabata in Agbaja community of Izzi said that he lost two of his buildings and property worth several million to the attackers.

Nwofe, who is Chairman of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP, Ebonyi council, said the suspected political thugs invaded his compound and shot sporadically before setting the houses ablaze.

He said: “I lost everything; even the boxers I am wearing was donated to me by a sympathizer, as you can see, no pin was removed from the burnt houses. ’We now live in fear as no one knows when the hoodlums will attack again with their AK 47 rifles and other weapons. “I am appealing to police to beef up security in the community and I am also calling on state and Federal governments to come to the rescue of the victims of the attacks,” Nwofe said.