Panic has gripped the residents of Amegu Nkalaha in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State as the death toll from Sunday’s brutal herdsmen invasion has risen to 16. Fearing for their lives, hundreds of survivors have fled the community, carrying what little they could salvage—cooking pots, mattresses, and other essentials—into neighboring villages.
When SaharaReporters visited the devastated community on Monday, the air was thick with grief. Clusters of residents stood in mourning, their tear-streaked faces reflecting the horror they had witnessed. The charred remains of homes and properties told a harrowing story of destruction, with survivors recounting how the attackers stormed the village early Sunday morning when most residents had gone to church.
Among the ruins, SaharaReporters counted seven yam barns reduced to ashes, 25 houses completely razed, and several others left with shattered windows and broken doors. Some of the corpses retrieved on Monday morning bore evidence of gruesome executions—throats slit, bodies riddled with bullets. Distraught families prepared their dead for burial, the air heavy with cries of anguish.
A witness, Edeze, who narrowly escaped, alleged that the Nigerian military and police were complicit in the massacre. “On Saturday, the military and police came, warning us not to leave the village. Less than 24 hours later, the herdsmen struck, slaughtering our people for several hours without any intervention,” he said.
Even more disturbing, Edeze claimed that when security forces finally arrived—long after the bloodshed had ended—they seized the phones of residents who had recorded evidence of the attack. “The soldiers warned us that if they saw any videos or pictures of the carnage online, they would return and deal with us,” he added, his voice trembling with rage.
Shockingly, instead of seeking justice for the slain villagers, the Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Patricia Obila, allegedly called for mass arrests in the community. Residents say she accused them of killing Fulani-owned cattle, an allegation that, according to them, often serves as a pretext for deadly reprisals.
“If a cow is killed, is it not the duty of security agencies to investigate and find out the culprits? Why must an entire community be wiped out in revenge?” an enraged villager asked. “Each time cattle are lost, security forces descend on our people, demanding extortionate bails. Then, shortly after, Fulani militias arrive to butcher us like animals. Yet, when our farms and crops are destroyed, nobody speaks up for us!”
A List of the Slain
Among those murdered in the gruesome attack were:
Simon Ogbuabor
Nnaji Nwa Omebe
James Ogbu (retired police officer)
Alloy Nnaji aka Eze Nwata
Amos Ogbu
Alfred Igwurube
Pastor Ibam and Assistant Pastor of Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry
Idenyi Ebe
Okechukwu Ogbuzuru
Eze Obeagu
Omebe Ogbu
Samuel Nnaji Ede
Obeagu Ogenyi
Nnaji Ebe (still missing)
Nnaji Okwor (still missing)
Joseph Ebe (from Umulesha village, also killed)
Among the displaced is Mrs. Clementina Ogbu, who broke down in tears as she recounted the nightmare. “We were preparing for church when gunshots rang out from all directions. People fled into the bushes, while those at home were burned alive. Now, we have nothing—no food, no shelter. I and my family have not eaten since yesterday. We need help from anywhere!”
Another elder, Simon Idenyi, accused the security forces of orchestrating a deceptive peace meeting between the community and Fulani herders just days before the attack. “On February 1st, government officials, the military, and police came, claiming they wanted peace talks with the herdsmen. Days later, we are mourning our dead!”
As of Monday, no arrests have been made, and the perpetrators remain at large. The residents fear that, like previous massacres, this one will also be swept under the rug, with authorities more concerned about cattle than human lives.
The survivors are calling on the Nigerian government, international human rights organizations, and concerned citizens to intervene before their community is completely wiped off the map.
For now, the people of Amegu Nkalaha live in fear, unsure of what tomorrow holds, abandoned by those sworn to protect them.
PIONEER NEWS 