Amegu Nkalagha community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was attacked by gunmen early Sunday morning, resulting in the deaths of several residents and the destruction of numerous buildings.
Reports indicate that the attack was a reprisal following the alleged killing of cattle belonging to herdsmen in the area.
Confirming the incident, Professor Ndubuisi Idenyi, a community member, told journalists that the assailants stormed the village in the early hours, unleashing violence that led to loss of lives and widespread destruction.
“I don’t have the number of casualties right now.
We are still tracking and bringing out the dead bodies, especially those killed in the farms,” he said.
Another source revealed that a pastor of a Pentecostal church was among those killed. The source, who requested anonymity, denied any involvement of community members in the killing of the cattle.
“We did not kill their cows. The cows were killed by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the forest,” the source said.
The Chairperson of Ishielu Local Government Area, Ifeoma Peace Agwu, also confirmed the incident, stating:
“We are taking the victims’ bodies to the mortuary right now. I cannot talk much on it now. We will give more details later.”
However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Ebonyi State Command, DSP Joshua Ukandu, said he was not aware of the attack.
