NewStats: 3,262,069 , 8,176,011 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 05:32 PM 102147

For the umpteenth time, suspected herdsmen struck in Ebonyi State on Sunday, February 2, 2025, killing 15 people and destroying several property worth millions of naira in Nkalaha community in Ishielu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Many residents of Ebonyi State had blamed the previous istration in the state for encouraging the influx of criminal herdsmen into the state.

Last Sunday’s attack swelled the list of atrocities being committed against the residents of the state by herdsmen without any challenge by the security agencies.

For instance, herdsmen had killed the Assistant Electoral Officer with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Afikpo LGA of the state, Emmanuel Igwe and Ajah Okafor, father of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth wing chieftain, Damian Okafor in Ishiagu community in Ivo LGA of the state on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

Igwe’s wife was also kidnapped by the herders who intercepted their car along the Ishiagu-Mpu road.

In November last year, the herders attacked Amaeze in Ishiagu community, killing a farmer and his two sons working on their farmland.

Just like the previous attacks, last Sunday’s attack was carried out unchallenged by the state police command and soldiers stationed in the state.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, some of the survivors said the attack lasted for several hours without intervention from the police or military.

“They (police and military) assured us that we were safe and should not leave. The next morning, armed men surrounded the village, shooting and burning houses,” said a community leader, Simon Idenyi.

“We counted 16 dead bodies, including a retired police officer and two pastors. Some were shot, others had their throats slit,” said another resident, Edeze Ogbu.

Residents claimed that security forces arrived hours after the attack, but instead of making arrests, they allegedly confiscated phones from those recording the destruction.

“The soldiers took our phones, saying we should not spread images of the killings. Later, they returned them and left,” Ogbu added.

The revelation by the traditional ruler of Nkalaha community, Igwe Thompson Ebe, that he had written a report on the situation in his community to Governor Francis Nwifuru and the security agencies confirmed their obvious failure to protect the people.

“I had written a report to the governor and copied security agencies, because the problem started on January 20, up till January 31, 2025.

“We have continued to mediate between the Agila in Benue State and the Fulani herdsmen. I even invited them to my house in Abakaliki to talk to them about 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 three 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 two others,” the traditional ruler narrated.

Governor Nwifuru had in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Monday Uzor, on Monday, condemned the massacre of the people by those he described as strangers.

“This attack, which is not the first in the area, is worrisome and a source of concern to the government and people of the state,” Nwifuru said. “Our people are very accommodating, but strangers should not take advantage of their calmness to unleash terror on them,” the governor warned.

On her part, the state deputy governor, Princess Patricia Obila, who visited the community on Tuesday, gave a 24-hour ultimatum to security agencies in the state to fish out the suspected attackers of the three villages.

Princess Obila, who represented Governor Nwifuru, said: “The killers must be brought to book. I order you to fish them (the killers) out within 24 hours.”

In what the residents of the communities described as a case of istering medicine after death, the state Commissioner of Police () Anthonia Uche-Anya, told journalists in Abakaliki that a special squad was on the trail of the suspected attackers.

Though she could not categorically state the cause of the violent attack, she however recalled the incident that happened in December 2024 where herders’ cattle were killed, indicating that security agencies might be looking in that direction.

But in a strange twist, Uche-Anya, on Wednesday told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki that the police operatives had arrested one of the perpetrators.

“The officers and men had raided the hideout of the suspected gang and recovered different exhibits linked to the attack.

“During their operations, one of the suspects, Maduabuchi Ebeh ‘M’, was apprehended with the assistance of of the Nkalaha community at the border of Nkalaha and Eha-Amufu and handed over to Isi-Uzo Division in the area.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect provided the names of others involved in the attack. Based on the information gathered, operatives from the command stormed the hideout of the suspected hoodlums.

“When the operatives raided the criminal hideout, other assailants fled the scene.

“However, the following items were recovered: three locally made single-barrelled guns, one police uniform, a pair of jungle boots, a pair of army camouflage shorts, and a pair of combat tros,” she added.

However, the identity of the arrested suspect has raised suspicion as many residents believed that the suspect could be among the unknown gunmen terrorising the state and not one of the killers of the 15 people in the state, who were said to be herdsmen.

The ’s claim that the suspect was handed over to the Isi- Uzo Police Division in Enugu State when his alleged offence was committed in Ebonyi State, also fuelled suspicions.

With the obvious failure of the state police command to provide security in the state, Governor Nwifuru should adopt the local security model in Anambra State to secure the people of the state.

Since Governor Charles Soludo established Agu Na Eche Mba to secure the people of the state, the group has recorded enormous success in tackling insecurity in the state.

Last Wednesday’s removal of the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Nnaghe Obono Itam, barely nine months after assuming office, and his replacement by Livingston Ikioye Urutuku, was believed to be linked to his failure to address the rising insecurity in the state.

Since Itam assumed office, following the retirement of Aderemi Adesoye, he could not contain the rising rate of kidnapping, cultism, and senseless killings.

Governor Nwifuru should disband the existing Ebubeagu security outfit, whose activities have been politicised and set up a new local outfit to protect the residents of the state from the rampaging herdsmen.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2025/02/09/the-massacre-of-villagers-in-ebonyi/?amp

“We counted 16 dead bodies, including a retired police officer and two pastors. Some were shot, others had their throats slit,” said another resident, Edeze Ogbu.

This is per​ni​cious​ly alarming....

Ipob or Heardsmen

May God keeps protecting us

attackgat:


https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2025/02/09/the-massacre-of-villagers-in-ebonyi/?amp

So sad 😢😭


RIP.

Ebonyi State
Political Thugs, Biafra Liberation Army, ESN, Cultists will be killing themselves for selfish reasons, but to defend themselves for herdsmen
Herdsmen can't carry out such attack in Ijaw land, because they know what will happen next.
If you can't protect yourself without government help, then you would be killed in Nigeria.

This is barbaric and inhumane......
May God protect us all...

I still don't understand?! The governor of Ebony said the perpetrators of the killings in his state are not Fulani herdsmen but criminals in the community. In Anambra Agunechemba have not paraded Fulani herdsmen either.

They will still blame the villagers. Some of them will be arrested and no herdsmen will be arrested or prosecuted.
That will be the outcome as usual.

It is surprising Unknown gunmen terrorizing the state who ought to be arrested a long time were identified and blamed for the attack while expertly removing the herdsmen from the picture.
Preserving unknown gunmen as a provision to be blamed for herdsmen attack in the east is now the game

While ebonyi indigenes are being massacred like animals,the scallywag of a governor has been busy spending millions of naira sponsoring Muslims to mecca........

Honestly,I thought no governor could outsmart former governor okowa when it comes to uselessness,not until I started reading news about this Ebonyi werey of a governor

This houseboy of a governor. Sacrificing your own people for personal ambition.

In another thread the Governor owned up that the criminal attack was led by suspected community gangsters and hoodlums.

Can there be any proof that Fulani terrorists did this?

HMMM! The news from the EAST dey give my EYES WERY like i Take YEAST e dey blur and they RISE

D

attackgat:


https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2025/02/09/the-massacre-of-villagers-in-ebonyi/?amp

It's really heartbreaking to see this kind of violence happening, especially when those in power seem to do nothing to protect the people. When clueless or indifferent leaders are in charge, the people suffer. It’s not just about failed security; it’s about a lack of leadership and empathy for human life.

[sup][/sup]
Southern leaders are the worst set of leaders this country has ever produced, they only speak up when there is a stop or reductions in the allocations they received.
I pour spit for their face!
😡😡😡😡😡

Sad. Condolences to the people of Ebonyi

Lanre1st:
May God keeps protecting us

Amen 🙏.

Those ill minded will think the caption of the story is true,

Fools,

fake news will never let u do the right thing.

Obi ers

UceeGod:
This houseboy of a governor. Sacrificing your own people for personal ambition.

U want him to fabricate tales just to be please u Eyepobians?

Hmm

A stupid man couldn't defend his electorates when he was most needed .

Fulanis are more powerful than Nigerian government. Kiss the truth.

attackgat:


https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2025/02/09/the-massacre-of-villagers-in-ebonyi/?amp

This is coordinated. A typical Fulani herdsman cannot buy a bullet let alone a gun

Questions we should ask:

Y now?

Who's sponsoring them?

Y ebonyi?

Knowing the intent of the mind behind these attacks will help foil other attacks

These goes beyond religious or ethnic conflict

There's more to this

attackgat:


https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2025/02/09/the-massacre-of-villagers-in-ebonyi/?amp

Blues from a FAILED COUNTRY where security does not exist but politicians clutch tight to one country because of lucre in crude oil and gas deposits in the Niger delta region.

Sonnobax15:

While ebonyi indigenes are being massacred like animals,the scallywag of a governor has been busy spending millions of naira sponsoring Muslims to mecca........

Honestly,I thought no governor could outsmart former governor okowa when it comes to uselessness,not until I started reading news about this Ebonyi werey of a governor

Sponsoring Igbo Muslims. Even Delta State spend billions last year to send Delta Muslim to mecca
Was Okowa useless or Corrupt?

tutudesz:
Ebonyi State
Political Thugs, Biafra Liberation Army, ESN, Cultists will be killing themselves for selfish reasons, but to defend themselves for herdsmen
Herdsmen can't carry out such attack in Ijaw land, because they know what will happen next.
If you can't protect yourself without government help, then you would be killed in Nigeria.

After you commit mayhem in the southeast, you come online to celebrate. The evil you perpetuate and celebrate will wait for you at your doorstep any time soon. Because of cheap cash from crude oil, you don't wanna give up on a FAILED country where human life is worthless for the political leaders.

I thought they said it is a communal clash between two communities and one community hired mercenaries to attack?