Death toll climbs to 15 in Ebonyi herdsmen attack, dozens still missing

The death toll from a brutal attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen on the villages of Amagu, Amaokwe, and Umunesha in Nkalaha community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has risen to 15, with many residents still unaccounted for.

The attack, which occurred on Sunday, has left the community in shock and mourning.

Initial reports indicated that 10 people were killed during the invasion, with several houses set ablaze. However, as search efforts continued, more bodies were discovered in the surrounding bush, pushing the death toll higher. Authorities fear the number of casualties may increase as the search for missing persons continues.

Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, visited the affected communities and expressed the state government’s grief over the tragic incident. Representing Governor Francis Nwifuru, she issued a 24-hour ultimatum to security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators.

“No government is happy to see its citizens killed in a bloody manner. This is really a horrific scene to behold. If you look at those corpses, they are our younger generation that were lost,” Obila said during her visit.

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She added, “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 to fight, but to make peace and live in harmony.”

The deputy governor also commended the efforts of security agencies, noting that their intervention prevented further casualties. “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 out within 24 hours,” she declared.

The traditional ruler of Nkalaha community, Igwe Thompson Ebe, revealed that tensions between the Agila community in Benue State and Fulani herdsmen had been escalating since January 2025. He stated that efforts had been made to mediate the conflict, but the situation tragically escalated into violence.

“I had written a report to the governor and copied security agencies because the problem started on January 20 to 31, 2025,” Igwe Ebe explained.

“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 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 monarch confirmed that the herdsmen targeted three villages—Amagu, Amaokwe, and Umunesha—leaving a trail of destruction. “We are still recovering the bodies. Now, the number has increased to 15, and we are looking for two others,” he said.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of the attack, calls for justice and increased security measures have grown louder. The state government’s ultimatum to security agencies underscores the urgency of addressing the escalating violence and ensuring the safety of residents in the region.

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