From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
The governor of Ebonyi state, Francis Nwifuru yesterday disbursed 101 million naira to victims of Nkalaha unknown gunmen attack in Ishielu local government area of the state, including herders affected in the ugly incident.
Salient Times learnt that the attack which happened on 26th February, 2025 left not less than 18 persons dead while houses and properties worth million of naira were burnt.
But accusing fingers in some quarters of the state, rested on unknown notorious armed herders who entered and escaped the community through the boundary routes.
Addressing the affected individuals, governor Nwifuru who described the incident as tragedy, warned that such should not repeat itself.
Nwifuru, represented by the deputy governor, Mrs. Patricia Obila however, urged the beneficiaries to use the fund wisely. She stressed that the gesture was aimed at cushioning the effects.
According to her, “as you receive this compensation we urge you to use it wisely. We also urge you not to use it as if more will come or abuse it.
“It may not be that we have so much to give but at least we have the heart to help our brothers and sisters affected on February 26th 2025 attack at Nkalaha community in Ishielu local government area by suspected armed herders.
“On this note I want to present the cheques to all of them. So 18 families who lost their loved ones, we are giving each family two million naira making it a total of 36 million naira.
“We were also able to discover that we have 41 buildings that were burnt and one million would be given to each of them, including those four big motorbikes owners burnt during the attack.
“Another, set were those who had their cash burnt in their respective houses including our Fulani brothers in Nkalaha.
“We are them the sum of 20 million naira because they also complained that they lost their cow and we are not leaving them behind.
“And you see one good thing with this government is that we don’t discriminate so we are giving them 20 million for their lost cows and the total broke down now amounts to 101 million naira,”she said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the council, Mrs. Peace Agwu in an interview, told journalists that peace has long been restored in the area.
Agwu however appraised the governor for his mutual display of one Nigeria spirit to the affected fulanis living in Nkalaha community.
