The Massacre of  Villagers in Ebonyi

Ejiofor Alike writes that with the obvious ineffectiveness of the Ebonyi State Police Command and other federal security operatives in protecting lives and property in the state, which led to the recent massacre of no fewer than 15 people in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state by suspected herdsmen, Governor Francis Nwifuru should establish a local security outfit to protect the people from senseless killings

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 administration 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 administering medicine after death, the state Commissioner of Police (CP) 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, CP 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 members 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 trousers,” 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 CP’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 CP 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.