Tension has escalated in Ataroga, a border community linking Ebonyi and Benue states, following the killing of more than 40 cows by suspected gunmen, an incident that occurred in the early hours of Sunday.
Ataroga, an Ebonyi-speaking settlement located in Ado Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has reportedly been abandoned by residents as fear spreads across the community. Several houses were allegedly destroyed, while valuables were looted in the aftermath of the attack.
A viral video circulating on social media shows distressed residents calling for urgent government and security intervention. In the footage, a man speaking Izzi dialect, common among Ebonyi people, appealed for help, claiming the community is facing violent reprisals over an act they did not commit.
“We, the Izzi people in Ataroga, Benue, are in serious danger for something we know nothing about. We did not kill any cows,” he said.
The speaker alleged that members of the Igede ethnic group invaded the community around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, killed the cows, and forced herdsmen to flee, leaving Ataroga residents vulnerable to retaliatory attacks.
He further appealed to Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, and other Izzi communities for immediate assistance, warning that the people could be wiped out if help does not arrive promptly.
“Our people are being killed, our homes are being burnt, and our properties looted. Herdsmen are attacking us, and we have no one to defend us,” he lamented.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies have arrested some individuals from the area, while tension remains high across the Ebonyi–Benue border community.
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