Ebonyi killings: Gov Nwifuru disburses N101.9m to Fulani herdsmen, Nkalaha victims

In a bid to maintain peace between the people of Nkalaha in Ishielu local Government Area of Ebonyi State and the Fulani herdsmen, Ebonyi State Government under the leadership of Governor Francis Nwifuru has disbursed ₦101.9 million compensation fund to victims of the February 2, 2025, unknown gunmen attack in the area.

Nwifuru represented by his Deputy Governor Patricia Obila, disburses the fund at Ishielu Local Government Area of the State.

According to him, the gesture was aimed to cushion the effect of the incident which claimed lives, destroyed property, and left many displaced.

He then gave the 18 bereaved families ₦2 million each (₦36 million), owners of 41 destroyed buildings he gave ₦1 million each (₦41 million). Four destroyed motorcycles were valued at ₦1 million each (₦4 million), while victims who lost cash during the attack were refunded a total of ₦816,000.

He then gave the Fulani community in the area ₦20 million for cows lost during the attack.

Obila urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely, noting that the government would also provide social amenities to support the community’s recovery.

She further commended stakeholders, traditional rulers, youth leaders, and security agencies for their efforts in restoring peace in the area, assuring that the state would not abandon the people of Nkalaha.

He, however, announced that victims not captured in the first phase would be considered in subsequent rounds of assistance.

“With a heavy heart, I reflect on the tragic incident that happened on February 2 in Nkalaha. The loss of lives and properties was devastating, and we must live together as one family to ensure it never happens again,” Obila said.

Mrs Peace Ifeoma Agwu, Executive Chairman of Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi State, lauded Governor Francis Nwifuru for his intervention and compensation to the people of Nkalaha and Fulani herdsmen.

“I’m so much happy for this gesture, it’s a historic indeed, for Ishielu people, I want to thank His Excellency because he is a leader par excellence, not all Leaders will show such compensation, to the people of Nkalaha community.

“The incident was a big attack but for his quick intervention, he has shown that he’s a leader par excellence. We can’t vividly mention the attackers because they are unknown gunmen, that attack the Nkalaha community, so the cow was killed, however, because of the governor’s good heart has compensated the herders”.

Meanwhile, the National Deputy Director General of MACBAN, Sidiqi Gidado said that about 140 cows were killed during the crisis and commended the State Governor for the compensation paid to its members.

“People infiltrate some of our people and the indigenes and when they cause havoc in the community, it will be tagged farmers and herders’ crisis which is not. The cattle dealers and the farmers are the vulnerable people whom their business are in the forest,” he added.

Gidado said that the community has set up a local vigilante and pledged that MACBAN will work with the government and the community to ensure that peace is sustained.

The Town Union President of Nkalaha Community, Mr. Eze Donatus expressed regret that out of the 18 persons killed in the attack, 10 were still in the mortuary while 8 have been buried, and urged the State Government to put modalities in place to ensure the burial of those still in the mortuary.

He further lamented that the community can no longer be accessed because of bad road and called on the government to extend its infrastructure programmes to the community.

Apart from the road, Mr Donatus also pleaded with the state government to rehabilitate the dilapidated hospital in the community, saying. “We can only access healthcare in Ehamufu in Enugu State.

“Nkalaha Community cannot be accessed because of dilapidated roads. The State Governor graciously gave us a 2 kilometer road but since last year till now, nothing has been done on the road.”

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