Scores killed as suspected herdsmen attack Ebonyi community 

Suspected herdsmen, yesterday, attacked the Amegu Nkalaha Community in the Ishielu Local Council of Ebonyi State, killing an unknown number of people and burning numerous houses.

The herdsmen also burnt many houses. The Guardian gathered that the attack was due to the killing of their cows by members of the community.

The Chairman of Isheilu Local Council, Ifeoma Peace, confirmed the incident, describing the incident as sad.
“We are taking the victims’ bodies to the mortuary right now. I cannot talk much about it now. We will give details later,” she said.

A source, Prof. Ndubuisi Idenyi, attributed the incident to be a reprisal attack, following the killing of some cows belonging to the herdsmen in the area. Prof. Idenyi noted that the herdsmen attacked the community in the early hours of yesterday, killing many people and burning down houses.

“I don’t have the number of casualties right now. We are still tracking and bringing out dead bodies, especially those killed in the farms,” he said.

Another source said a Pastor of a Pentecostal Church in the area was among those killed during the attack. The source, who did not want his name in print, said the community members were not responsible for the killing of the cows.

“We did not kill their cows. The cows were killed by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the forest,” the source said. The Ebonyi State Police Command spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the attack, stating that the police have deployed operatives to the area.

While confirming the attack, Ukandu noted that the number of casualties is still being investigated. “Yes, an attack occurred, and the police are responding to the situation. “

The command is still working to determine the precise number of people killed in the incident,” he said.