Many residents of Amegu Nkalagha community, in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, were on Sunday morning killed when suspected herdsmen reportedly launched an attack in the area.
During the attack, many buildings were also razed by the assailants.
It was learnt that the incident was a reprisal following the reported killing of cattle belonging to herdsmen in the area.
A member of the community, Prof Ndubuisi Idenyi, explained that the assailants stormed the village in the early hours of Sunday, unleashing violence that left many dead and several properties destroyed.
Idenyi said, “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.”
It was also learnt that a pastor of a Pentecostal church in the area was among those killed during the attack.
Sources who pleaded anonymity said the community members were not responsible for 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”, a source said.
Chairperson of Isheilu Local Government Area, Ifeoma Peace Agwu confirmed the incident.
According to her, “We are taking the victims’ bodies to the mortuary right now.
“I cannot talk much on it now. We will give more details later.”
But Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, said he was not aware of the attack.