Suspected herdsmen launched an attack on the Amegu Nkalaha community in Ishielu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, on Sunday, killing an unknown number of people and setting numerous houses ablaze.
The spokesperson for the Ebonyi State Police Command, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the incident to Channels Television, stating that police operatives had been deployed to the area.
Ukandu noted that the exact number of casualties is still being investigated.
“Yes, an attack occurred, and police are responding to the situation. The command is still working to determine the precise number of people killed in the incident,” he said.
Casualty Assessment Ongoing
The Chairperson of Ishielu Local Government Area, Ifeoma Agwu, also confirmed the attack, stating that efforts to recover bodies and transport them to the mortuary were still underway, making it difficult to determine the full extent of the fatalities.
“We are taking the victims’ bodies to the mortuary right now. I cannot talk much on it now. We will provide more details later,” she said.
Possible Retaliation Over Slain Cattle
While the motive for the attack remains unclear, some residents believe it may be linked to the recent killing of cows belonging to herdsmen in the area.
A community member, speaking anonymously, alleged that the cows were killed by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the forest.
The source added that tensions had been rising in the community since the incident, with local stakeholders working to prevent retaliatory violence.