Deaths, Blood, Sorrow As Suspected Herdsmen Attack Ebonyi Community

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Ebonyi State Police Command on Sunday February 2, 2025, said they have deployed operatives to Amegu Nkalahu community ,in Ishielu Local Council to maintain peace and order. This followed  rising tensions over the killing of yet-to-be ascertained number of persons by suspected herders.

The Source reports that some gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen early Sunday  attacked and killed several local farmers, and razed many houses .

Confirming the incident ,the Police Command spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, SP, informed that the number of casualties is still unclear .

He, however, assured that security has been enhanced in the affected area ,while details of both human and material losses will be made known after ongoing investigations .

“Yes, an attack occurred and Police are responding to the situation .The Command is still working.to determine the precise number of people killed in the incident”, the Police Spokesman stated.

The authorities of Ishielu Local Government noted that rescue and evacuation processes are underway , with efforts being made to deposit in the morgue recovered bodies of victims.

Until the efforts are concluded, the exact number of casualties will not be known,according to the Chairperson of the Council,  Ifeoma Agwu.

She, however, assured of providing more insight into the number of victims, as well as the extent of damage recorded in the attack after the evacuation process .

While the motives for  the attack remain hazy ,some  associate it to the recent killing of an unspecified number of cattle belonging to the herdsmen in the community.

One of the accounts, however, blamed the attack on the cows on some suspected operatives of the Eastern Security Network ESN,who are believed to be camping in adjourning forests in the area.

According to one of the locals ,the incident going by the palpable tension and anxiety in the community since the killing of the cattle ,Sunday’s perceived reprisal attack was a disaster waiting to happen.