Gunmen have slain five people including a traditional ruler, his wife, son, and two others in the Olegabulu community in the Agatu Local Government Area, of Benue state.
The gunmen attack took place on Thursday night, around 8 p.m., when the attackers stormed the neighborhood.
A neighborhood source told our correspondent that four people riding two motorcycles entered the traditional ruler’s home and shot him and two members of his household.
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “The assailants were not Fulani because, at the time they alighted from their motorcycles, they exchanged pleasantries with people around in our dialect.
“So, nobody envisaged they were enemies, but as soon as they entered the traditional ruler’s house and opened fire, everyone scampered for safety.
“The assailants operated for almost 20 minutes. After attacking the traditional ruler’s residence, they moved to the next house and killed two people.
“One other person sustained injuries before they fled.”
Melvin Ejeh, the chairman of the local government, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation on Friday, saying five persons were killed and one was injured, and that police personnel in the region had visited the scene.
“It’s true the incident happened. Five people were killed and one person injured during the attack,” Ejeh said.
When reached, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, stated that she had yet to receive the report.
“I am yet to get the report, but I am still waiting for it,” Edet said.
