ABAKALIKI—Following the attack on the people of Amagu, Amaokwe and Umunesha villages in Nkalaha community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the death toll has risen to 15 while many people are still missing.
The suspected herdsmen had on Sunday invaded the community, killing 10 and burning houses, but the recent reports indicated that more dead bodies had been recovered in the bush while some natives were still missing.
The state deputy governor, Princess Patricia Obila, who visited the community, gave 24 hours ultimatum to security agencies in the state to fish out the suspected killers, who killed 15 innocent citizens in the villages of Nkalaha community.
The deputy governor, who represented the governor, said the state government was shocked and saddened over the incident.
She said: “No government is happy to see its citizens killed in bloody manner. This is really a horrific scene to behold, if you look at those corpses, they are our 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 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 to fight but to make peace and love in harmony.
“Many people died for not knowing what was happening. I’m telling you the truth, many of the corpses lying there did not know what was happening.
“I want to thank the security agencies in the state for their efforts, without their interventions, the casualty would have been much more than this. The killers must be brought to book. I order you to fish them (killers) out within 24 hours.”
The traditional ruler of Nkalaha community, Igwe Thompson Ebe, said: “I had written a report to the governor and copied security agencies, because the problem started on January 20 to 31, 2025.
“We have continued to meditate between the Agila in Benue State and the Fulani herdsmen. I even invited them to my house in Abakaliki to talk to them over their cows that were allegedly killed. We have even made some arrests to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended. As we were still talking, this ugly incident of killings took place on Sunday.”
“The herdsmen attacked three villages; Amagu, Amaokwe and umunesha. We are still recovering the bodies. Now, the number has increased to 15, and we are looking for two others,” Igwe Ebe stated.
