Survivors of the recent herdsmen attack in Nkalaha community in Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State have expressed concern over repeated attacks, killings and destruction of properties by herdsmen on innocent members of the community.
The survivors called on the state government to find a lasting solution to the incessant attacks, especially coming from the boundary between Ebonyi and Enugu states.
One of them, Mr. Ifeanyi Onwa who spoke to LEADERSHIP expressed the regret that a good number of indigenes of the community have been brutally murdered and properties worth millions destroyed by the herdsmen who repeatedly attack the community using the Isi Uzo local government area axis of Enugu State.
Mr. Onwe, who expressed the concern during the distribution of relief materials to survivors of the attack, called for 24 24-hour security patrol along the axis, adding that with adequate security and intelligence gathering, the incessant attacks would be nipped in the bud.
“The attacks, I must confess, have grossly affected the agricultural activities in the area. We are predominantly farmers but now our woman can no longer go to the farm except they were escorted by local security vigilante. The unwarranted attacks must be put to an end. We are not the aggressors.
“We must commend the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the relief materials and for coming to our aide but we are calling on the state and federal government to please pursue lasting solutions to the persistent insecurity threatening the rural communities. We are grateful, but what we really want is peace,” he said.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 15 indigenes of Amagu Nkalaha and other two villages were brutally murdered during the early Sunday morning attack on the community by the suspected herdsmen.
Distributing the relief materials, the representative of NEMA, Mrs. Sharntel Chukwu called on community heads and the leadership of the council area to brace up to the challenges of insecurity by ensuring dialogue and tolerance.
She urged them to ensure community watch and support government policies on peace and conflict resolution, adding that this would ensure a peaceful environment.
Mrs. Chukwu noted that the agency is in the community to distribute the relief materials to persons affected by the attack in keeping with the agency’s mandate.
She noted that some of the items to be distributed to the survivors include 300 bags of 25KG parboiled Rice, 300 cartons of 25kg vegetable oil, 15 cartons of seasoning, 15 cartons of Tomato Paste and 15 cartons of iodised salt, adding that the items are meant to bring succour to the victims.
In his response, Barrister Ikechukwu Alobo, who represents the state governor, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to not only providing relief materials but also enhancing security in the area to prevent future attacks.
“We mourn with you. We are committed to not just responding, but preventing such tragedies through stronger community security frameworks and proactive governance,” he said.
The member representing, Ezza North/Ishielu federal constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Joseph Nwobashi described the attack as “unwarranted, barbaric, and a stain on our collective conscience.”
He, however, vowed to push for stronger legislative backing for rural security and more sustained humanitarian interventions for affected communities.
