Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, has said the local government area chairmen, development centre coordinators and the traditional rulers shall henceforth be held accountable for any further killing in their localities.

The overnor said he would not hesitate to deploy every lawful means to suspend them if any part of the state witnessed any killing.

Umahi, who spoke during the signing of the second phase of contracts for Ebonyi State Ring Roads project on Wednesday at Government House, Abakaliki, said the monarchs should be able to identify the youths in their localities who were perpetrating the attacks and killings in the state.

He however, said his government was ready to suspend all projects and empower the bandits, if they could lay down their arms.

“Let me warn all the local government council chairmen, traditional rulers, development centre coordinators and  parents that henceforth, they will be held responsible for any killing in the state.

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“No any innocent Ebonyi citizen will be killed. Anybody that attempts that would end up in jail,” Umahi said.

He called on the citizens of the state to collaborate with security agencies to ensure permanent peace in the State.

Umahi, who was angry over an allegation that those perpetrating the killings in Anambra State were Ebonyi people, described the allegation as false, adding, “If any Ebonyi person is caught killing another person, that person should be killed too.”