Residents of Amegu Nkalaha Community in Ishielu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, are fleeing in large numbers after an armed attack by suspected terrorists dubbed ‘herdsmen’ on Sunday left 16 people dead.
In the aftermath of the attack, survivors gathered in clusters, mourning their loved ones and surveying the destruction. Houses and properties were set ablaze, taking advantage of the early hours of Sunday when most residents were in church. Three more bodies were recovered on Monday, with families preparing them for burial.
Reports from SaharaReporters counted seven burnt yam barns and 25 houses that were completely razed. Five houses that remained standing had their doors and windows severely damaged. Some of the victims had their throats slit, while others had multiple gunshot wounds.
Several residents, who spoke in Igbo, accused the Nigerian Army and police of complicity in the attack. They alleged that security forces had instructed them not to leave the community on Saturday, only for attackers to strike the following day. The onslaught lasted for several hours without any intervention from security agencies.
Following the attack, the Nigerian Army and police reportedly arrived in the community to offer condolences. However, residents accused soldiers of confiscating phones from those recording videos and issuing threats against sharing footage.
“Worse still, when they came, the soldiers seized the phones of our people who were making videos and threatened that if they see the videos of the carnage and pictures of the destruction, they will come back and destroy them,” said a resident, Edeze, whose phone was taken.
He further alleged, “After they carried 10 corpses which our people recovered, including a retired policeman, Mr. James Ogbu, from different locations where they were slaughtered, the soldiers returned and handed back the phones seized from the people.”
Residents also accused Ebonyi State Deputy Governor Patricia Obila of calling for mass arrests in their community, allegedly in response to accusations that Fulani herdsmen’s cows had been killed.
“Even the deputy governor of Ebonyi, Mrs. Patricia Obila, was the one telling the police that they should go for mass arrest in our community, accusing our people of killing cows belonging to the Fulani herdsmen. Till now, she hasn’t visited the community,” Edeze lamented.
He decried the government’s silence when herders destroy farmlands but swift action when cattle are reportedly harmed. “If a cow is reportedly killed in a community, is it not the duty of the security agencies to investigate and fish out the killer? Why would the entire community be collectively punished? After the police extortion for bail and payment for the cow, they will send Fulani militias to invade and slaughter the people who probably knew nothing, and the attackers would raze the community.”
The victims of the attack include Simon Ogbuabor, Nnaji Nwa Omebe, James Ogbu, a retired police officer, Alloy Nnaji, also known as Eze Nwata, Amos Ogbu, Alfred Igwurube, Assistant Pastor Ibam of Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Amos Ogbu, Idenyi Ebe, Okechukwu Ogbuzuru, Eze Obeagu, Omebe Ogbu, Samuel Nnaji Ede, Obeagu Ogenyi, Nnaji Ebe, who is still missing, Nnaji Okwor, who is also still missing, and Joseph Ebe from Umulesha village.
Mrs. Ogbu Clementina, another resident, questioned why security forces did not intervene until after the attackers had left.
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“On Sunday, we were preparing to go to church when we suddenly started hearing gunshots. Some had already gone to church, while others were on their farms. The gunshots were coming from all directions. We were in a state of confusion and some of us entered the bushes and hid. Shortly, we started seeing thick smoke rising in the sky. Our houses, food barns, and clothing were completely burned.”
She continued, “We slept in the bushes and now we have no house, no food—nothing left to live on. My family and I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday. We need help from anywhere.”
Elder Simon Idenyi also accused the military and police of aiding herdsmen in attacking communities. He recounted how, just days before the attack, security forces had reassured residents that peace had been brokered between the community and Fulani herdsmen.
“On February 1st, officials of the state government, along with military and police authorities, came to us and said they wanted to make peace with us and the Fulani herdsmen. After discussions, they told us that the issue had been resolved and encouraged us not to leave our homes, assuring us of protection.”
“However, on Sunday morning, attackers stormed the community. At about 9:30 am, strange faces—whom we later understood were Fulani herdsmen wielding AK-47 rifles and machetes—surrounded the community and started killing anyone on sight and burning houses. There was no security presence while the carnage lasted. The attack continued until 3:30 pm, and no single security agent came until around 5 pm.”
He further explained that the assailants attacked every part of the community, even entering churches.
“They killed two people inside the church. They burned at least 25 houses despite the military and state government’s assurances that we were protected. Hours after the carnage, the soldiers came and told us, ‘sorry for the loss,’ and then left. They took 10 recovered corpses to the morgue, but we are still searching for five more people in the bushes.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed on Monday that security operatives had recovered 10 bodies from the attack. Ebonyi State Police Command spokesperson Joshua Ukandu stated that the police were investigating the incident.
“Several houses were also burnt selectively in the area, and other properties destroyed. Upon receipt of the information, we drafted police operatives to the area,” he said.
Ukandu added, “We are currently investigating the incident while normalcy has returned to the area. We also recovered 10 corpses from the area. At the moment, our personnel are there, and normalcy is returning to the area.”
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