Ebonyi herdsmen attack death toll now 15
By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
Death toll from herdsmen attacks on innocent souls in Ebonyi has hit 15.
The attacks took place in Amagu, Amaokwe, and Umunesha villages in Nkalaha community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The state’s inability to check the incessant attacks was partly responsible for the formation of the Eastern Security Network, (ESN).
The death toll rose to 15 on Wednesday 15, while several residents remain missing.
Suspected armed Fulani herdsmen invaded the area in the early hours of Sunday, initially killing 10 people and setting homes ablaze. However, as search efforts continued, more bodies were discovered in the surrounding bushes, raising the casualty count.
State Government Responds
On Tuesday, Deputy Governor Princess Patricia Obila visited the affected villages, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to security agencies to apprehend the attackers. Speaking on behalf of Governor Francis Nwifuru, she condemned the killings and expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
“No government is happy to see their citizens being killed in a bloody manner. This is a horrific scene to behold. If you look at those corpses, they are a younger generation that were lost. What happens to their children and what happens to their families? Why do you terminate lives that you can’t create? It is too bad. I’m sounding a warning to all the youth leaders of this community. All of you should sit up, I didn’t say that you should sit up to go and fight but to make peace and love in harmony.”
She urged community youth leaders to foster peace and unity, rather than resorting to violence.
“I am giving this community three days to go into fasting and prayers, for God to come and sanctify this community. There is nothing that God cannot do.”
Obila commended security agencies for their prompt response, acknowledging that their intervention helped prevent even more casualties.
“The killers must be brought to book. I order you to fish them (the killers) out within 24 hours.”
Traditional Ruler Calls for Justice
The traditional ruler of Nkalaha, Igwe Thompson Ebe, revealed that tensions had been brewing since January 20, and he had formally reported the issue to the state government and security agencies.
“We have continued to mediate between the Agila in Benue State and the Fulani herdsmen. I even invited them to my house in Abakaliki to talk to them about their cows that were allegedly killed. We have even made some arrests to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended. As we are still talking, this ugly incident of killings took place on Sunday.”
He confirmed that three villages were targeted, and search efforts were ongoing to locate two missing persons.
