“Nigerian soldiers took our phones so the world wouldn’t see how Fulani herdsmen killed our people” – Ebonyi Community Mourns After Deadly Attack
The people of Amegu Nkalaha, Ebonyi State, are in grief. Their once-peaceful village became a massacre on Sunday morning, when armed men suspected of being Fulani herders started a violent attack. At least 30 people were killed, homes were burned down, and families were torn apart.
“We Were Warned Not to Leave, Then the Attack Happened” Residents had a hunch something dreadful was coming. According to them, security forces told them not to leave the village on Saturday. However, when the attackers arrived the next morning, there was no response.
“They came when we were at church. “Houses were burning, people were being slaughtered, and there was no one to save us,” a survivor said, his voice filled with sadness. Phones seized, voices silenced.
As the dust settled, soldiers arrived, not to help, but to prevent the story from being recounted. They allegedly took phones from neighbors who were filming the wreckage, stating that if any recordings or images leaked, they would return and punish them.
“They took our phones so the world wouldn’t see what happened to us,” Simon Edeze, a resident whose phone was seized, explained. “They said if they found any evidence of the destruction online, they would come back and destroy our homes too.”
“The Deputy Governor Cares More About Cows Than Us”
Adding to their anguish, the community accused Ebonyi’s Deputy Governor, Patricia Obila, of turning against them rather than offering assistance. They claimed that instead of visiting the bereaved families, she ordered widespread arrests of villagers, claiming they had killed Fulani-owned animals.
“Our people are being killed, our homes destroyed, but all she cares about is cows,” one enraged local remarked. “She hasn’t even come to see the victims or offer any help.” “Nobody Listens Until It’s About Cows”
The population is deeply frustrated, believing that their lives are less valuable than animals in the eyes of the government. When herders’ cows are injured, there is immediate action. However, when entire families are wiped out, there is stillness. For the time being, Amegu Nkalaha is in mourning, and its inhabitants are left with a difficult question: if those who are supposed to protect us do not speak up, who will?
Written By Igbo History
