No fewer than four people have been killed by rampaging terrorists suspected to be armed herdsmen in Benue State‘s Agatu Local Government Area, including two soldiers.
The terrorists allegedly carried out the attack after infiltrating many settlements, including Abugbe, Okokolo, Ugboju, Odugbeho, and Olegobidu.
According to reports, the two soldiers stationed at the council area for peacekeeping were killed after armed herders ambushed them while on official patrol of the area.
Some villagers told reporters that the attacks, which began a few days earlier, escalated when the terrorists proceeded to Okokolo and attacked the residents.
Two political representatives from the local administration confirmed the attack and killing on Friday.
The legislator representing the Agatu constituency in the state House of Assembly stated, “Yes, the attack was by herdsmen. It occurred yesterday (Thursday). We suffered casualties; some were injured, and some died.
”What happened was that there were threats of attacks on some villages, including Ocholonya and Ugboju K’Ugbe, for the past six days.
”Those people deserted their place and relocated to Okokolo. So, it was Okokolo that herdsmen came to attack them yesterday.
“Those are the displaced villages for now. We have lost about two people so far. A lot of people were injured, and we are still monitoring their medication.”
Similarly, Mike Inalegwu, the former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, acknowledged that two soldiers were killed and one was missing.
“One of the soldiers is missing because when they dialed his number, it was the voice of a Fulani that they heard from the other side,” he added.
At the time of filing this report, the state police public relations officer, SP Catherine Anene, could not be reached for comment on the attack by the terrorists.
Joseph Har, Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, acknowledged the attack but claimed he didn’t have any specifics at the time of reporting this story.
