Following last Sunday?s attack and killing of over 17 people of Amagu, Amaokwe and Umunesha villages in Nkalaha community, in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, many surviving members of the community have started packing out and relocating to other villages out of fear of another attack.

It was a black Sunday for the people following the attack. The armed herders did not stop at killing the villagers including those who were in the churches, they went ahead to burn down their houses and destroy other property while scores were injured in the process.

The President General of Nkalaha community, Donatus Eze said: ?we tried to resolve this matter since last year December 2024, but to my utmost surprise, when I heard that the Fulani herdsmen had attacked my community, I thought it was a joke, because we were on the verge of resolving this matter. Many buildings were razed down, many people were slaughtered like chickens. Our people are already packing out of this village. Many have packed their luggage and ran away for fear of further attacks?

A member of the community and former Chairman, Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU, Ebonyi State University chapter, Prof Ndubuisi Idenyi said, ?My Village Amegu Nkalaha was attacked by herdsmen. Many have been killed and houses razed. What a black Sunday?. Prof Idenyi said the herdsmen attacked the community in the early hours of Sunday, killing and injuring an unconfirmed number of people as well as burning down houses. ?I don?t have the number of casualties right now. We are still tracking and bringing out the dead bodies, especially those killed in the farms,? he said.

One of the women whose husbands were killed, Mrs. Nwakaego Ebah, lamented saying, ?the Fulani herdsmen invaded our house and killed my husband who did not do anything wrong to warrant him being killed?

The council chairman of Ishielu local government area, Mrs. Peace Ifeoma Agwu said when she received the information of the attack and killings of the people by herdsmen, she had to mobilize security operatives in Ishielu Local Government Area who swiftly moved to the scene of the attack to prevent further damages and killings in the area. ?Honestly, it was sad news. The state government under the leadership of Governor Nwifuru is however handling it in a way that such attacks and brutal killings will never occur again in those three villages of Nkalaha community?, she stressed.

The Senator representing Ebonyi central zone, Senator Kenneth Eze condemned the gruesome murder of the people of the community, describing the attack as devilish, unfortunate and vowed to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book. According to him: ?This is a moment of grief for us all and I?m deeply saddened and condemn in strongest terms this dastardly act. This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for a heightened consciousness on intelligence gathering on the side of our security agencies and personnel to identify and nip in the bud such a dastardly act before it happens?.

The Member Representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives Hon. Joseph Nwobasi, expressed grief and condemned the unfortunate massacre of innocent villagers of Nkalaha. Obasi in a statement described the action as barbaric and unacceptable.

?I condemn in the strongest terms the senseless attack on the peaceful people of Amagu and other villagers in Nkalaha by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The barbaric act, which led to the loss of innocent lives, injuries, and destruction of property is unacceptable and must not be tolerated in our society. It is heartbreaking that yet again, our people have been subjected to unwarranted violence, leaving families in grief and our community in fear. No individual or group has the right to take the lives of others or disrupt the peace and security of any community. I call on the security agencies to swiftly investigate this attack, apprehend the perpetrators, and ensure that justice is served.

?Our people deserve to live without fear, and it is the responsibility of the government and security forces to guarantee the safety of all citizens. Furthermore, I urge the Federal Government and the Ebonyi State Government to take immediate steps to strengthen security in Ishielu LGA and other vulnerable areas to prevent a recurrence of such tragic incidents. Our communities must not continue to live under the threat of violence and bloodshed?, Obasi stated.

On the first day, the number of casualties was given as 10 by the police but the recent reports indicated that more dead bodies were recovered in the bush while some natives were still missing in the villages.

Governor Francis Nwifuru of the state in a statement immediately after the incident directed security agencies to mobilize fully to the community to protect lives and property in the area. He charged the security agencies to move to the community to bring the situation under control. The Governor who condemned the attack on the people appealed to indigenes of the area to remain calm and avoid reprisal attack assuring that government must get to the root of the matter.

February 2, 2025 will remain unforgettable for the people of the community due to the gruesome murder of their breadwinners, husbands, sons and future hope of the community.

The recent attack was one in many attacks launched against the people of the area and its neighbouring communities in Enugu state where several people were massacred in a similar horrific way in 2023. (Saturday Vanguard)

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