Death toll has risen to 15 in the Sunday, February 2 attack on Nkalaha community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by herdsmen, who razed many houses and other properties worth millions of naira the dastardly attack allegedly carried out to avenge the killing of cows by some villagers.
The state police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu said 10 persons were killed in the attack.
But the traditional ruler of the community, Thompson Edeh told the state Deputy Governor, Patricia Obila on Monday during her visit to the area that the death toll has risen to 15.
He noted that two indigenes of the community have been missing since the day the incident occurred.
“I had written a report to the Governor and copied security agencies, because the problem started on January 20th till 31st of January 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 are still talking, this ugly incident of killings took place on Sunday.
“The herdsmen attacked a total of 3 villages; Amagu, Amaokwe and umunesha. We are still recovering the bodies of the casualties. Now, the number has increased to 15, and we are looking for 2 others,” Igwe Ebe stated.
Obila, while addressing the community, gave security agencies 72 hours to fish out the perpetrators.
“No government is happy to see their citizens being killed in a bloody manner. This is really 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.
”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 am giving this community 3 days to go into fasting and prayers, for God to come and sanctify this community. There is nothing that God cannot do.
“I want to thank the security agencies in the state for their efforts, without their interventions the casualty figure 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,” she stated.
