Eleven Feared Dead in Ebonyi Community Invasion: Armed Attackers Raze 30 Buildings

An invasion by armed men has left at least eleven people dead in the Inikiri Effium community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The brutal attack, which took place on Wednesday, is believed to be part of an ongoing conflict between the Effium and Ezza Effium communities that has simmered since January 2021.

Witnesses report that the attack began around 2 p.m. and continued for four hours, with assailants shooting sporadically and razing buildings in the area. Among the casualties were children aged 2 to 12 and a pregnant woman, according to local residents.

One of the residents, Pastor Freeman Nwonu, recounted the harrowing experience to SK Blog. “They invaded our community, shooting from 2 p.m. till 6 p.m. without any resistance from the soldiers stationed nearby,” he said. “We lost eleven people, and about 30 houses were destroyed, including a health center built by an international organization.”

The absence of military intervention during the attack has raised concerns among community members. Nwonu expressed his frustration, noting that the soldiers did nothing to stop the violence, and even denied that anything significant had occurred.

Another community stakeholder, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the incident took place near his home and described the devastation it caused.

Despite the chaos and loss of life, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, claimed he had not received any information about the incident at the time of reporting.

Efforts to maintain peace in the area have been ongoing since the conflict between the Effium and Ezza Effium communities escalated more than three years ago.