The death toll in the three communities of Ebonyi-Benue borders that was attacked by herders has risen to 42.
Armed herdsmen had on Saturday morning invaded Odoke Ishieke, Obakota Ishieke and Ndiobasi Ishieke communities all in Ebonyi local government area of Ebonyi state and killed over 30 persons not leaving behind pregnant women and nursing mothers.
The communities has common boundaries with Ardo local government, Benue state and since the invasion, security agents have been recovering dead bodies from bushes in the affected areas.
A resident of one of the area who simply gave his name as Nwegede told our correcpondent that 31 bodies were recovered in Ndiobasi Ishieke, 6 in Odoke Ishieke and 15 bodies in Obakota Ishieke.
He said “Herdsmen butchered Izzi peoples like this at Nwori Ndiobashi side. Most of the victims are at Sudan hospital Onuenyimu right now battling machetes and gunshot injuries.
Meanwhile, many victims of the attack are still receiving treatment at Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki 2(FETHA2) and a health centre close to the scene of the incidents, AMURT.
A stakeholders from the affected communities and Commissioner for Capital City Developmen Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi said over 30 bodies have been evacuated from bushes around the affected communities while soldiers are still recovering more bodies from the bushes.
He said “it is a very unfortunate situation. We got a very sad news yesterday morning that armed herdsmen invaded Izzi land particularly in a place called Ndiobashi and killed so many of our people. We quickly alerted the security agencies to come to their aid but unfortunately, the Benue state government who claimed ownership of the area could not respond positively.
“But we commend the Governor of Ebonyi state who upon hearing the incident, swing into action even though the land is in dispute and sent the security agencies to repel the attacks. As I speak to you, over 30 bodies have been evacuated and as I talk, the soldiers are still evacuating more dead bodies in the bush.
“ I visited there yesterday and the victims narrated their ordeals but of a truth, the area is in disarray. People are in panic but we have been able to encourage them to complement the efforts of the security agencies to beef up security in the area so that the ugly incident doesn’t reoccur”.
However, the Ebonyi state government has beefed up security in Izzi and Ebonyi local government areas of the state following the killings.
