Governor Nwifuru Says Local Criminals, Not Herders, Responsible for Ebonyi Killings

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has asserted that local criminals, rather than herders, were responsible for the recent killings in Amegu, Nkalagha Community, in the state.

The governor made this declaration on Sunday, after attending a church service at the Government House Chapel in Abakaliki. A statement from his spokesperson, Monday Uzor, later provided details of his speech.

Earlier reports had indicated that gunmen, suspected to be herders, attacked the Amegu, Nkalagha community in Ishielu Local Government Area on February 2, 2024. The attackers killed several residents and set fire to many houses. Police confirmed that 10 people were killed in the attack, which was believed to be a reprisal for the killing of some cattle in the area.

A source from the community had clarified that the cattle were not killed by the residents but by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant arm of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). IPOB has been linked to violent acts in the region.

However, Governor Nwifuru stated that preliminary investigations by security agencies suggested that local criminals, rather than herders, carried out the attack. His position contradicts that of the community, which has accused herders of the killings.

Jude Chikadibia, Ebonyi’s commissioner for information, confirmed that the governor’s statement was based on confessions from a suspect arrested in connection with the attack. The suspect is currently in police custody, and investigations are ongoing.

Chikadibia also emphasized that the investigation is still in progress, and no group has been completely exonerated yet. He revealed that the confessions linked members of the ESN to the attack, adding that the community may have been harboring some of these non-state actors.

The investigation is expected to provide further clarity on the groups involved in the tragic incident.