BREAKING: Scores feared dead as suspected herdsmen attack Ebonyi community

Many residents of Amegu Nkalaha Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have been killed following an attack by suspected herdsmen.

The assailants reportedly stormed the community in the early hours of Sunday, killing residents and setting houses ablaze.

Confirming the attack, the Chairman of Ishielu LGA, Ifeoma Agwu, stated that the casualty figure had yet to be determined as evacuation of bodies was still ongoing.

“We are currently taking victims’ bodies to the mortuary. I cannot provide full details at the moment, but we will give more information later,” she said.

Sources suggest the attack might have been a reprisal following the recent killing of cows belonging to herdsmen in the area. A community member, Prof. Ndubuisi Idenyi, confirmed the incident in a Facebook post, lamenting the destruction.

“My village, Amegu Nkalaha, was attacked today by herdsmen. Many have been killed, and houses razed to the ground. What a black Sunday!” he wrote.

In a telephone interview, Idenyi disclosed that the exact number of casualties remained unknown as search efforts continued to recover bodies, especially those killed in farms.

A source, who requested anonymity, revealed that a pastor of a Pentecostal church and an evangelist were among those killed. The source denied community involvement in the killing of the herdsmen’s cattle, claiming members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) were responsible for the incident in the forest.

“There has been tension in the community since the cows were killed. Our stakeholders tried to prevent an attack, but despite their efforts, the assailants invaded in the early hours of the morning and unleashed mayhem on our people,” the source said.

When contacted, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Joshua Ukandu, stated that he had not yet been briefed on the attack.

The situation remains tense in the area as residents count their losses and demand urgent intervention from security agencies.