2 soldiers, 2 others killed in renewed herdsmen attacks in Benue

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen have reportedly killed four persons, including two soldiers, in a renewed attack in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.

The latest attack had led the residents to flee to Ugbokpo headquarters of Apa LGA where they are taking refuge.

Some locals who spoke to  our correspondent on Thursday identified the attacked communities as Ikobi which is located just a few kilometres away from Ugbokpo, headquarters Apa local government area..

According to residents, the incident happened on Wednesday at about 3:30am when the assailants invaded the community in a commando style, ambushing the soldiers who were conducting surveillance in the area and allegedly killing two of them.

An eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent through text message  on Thurdthat, the herdsmen, yesterday (Wednesday) attacked and killed four persons including two soldiers and made away with the military’s “two (2) AK47 and one (1) SMG Gun”, at Ijaha Ikobi, in Apa Local Government Area of Benue.

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He gave the names of the civilian victims (Natives), who were killed to include; Ocheje Ngbede Sani and Aduba Paul Ogboyi, while names of the two soldiers killed as at the time of filling this report, were yet unknown.

He lamented that the current security situation in  Benue State called for concern of everyone and the entire Nigeria.

The source insisted that both military and other paramilitary by n, ought to have taken over the whole surrounding bushes in Apa and Agatu, to clear the insurgents and free the areas for farmers to farm peacefully.

“This is a wake up call to “Mopol 80″ stationed at Odugbo, to rise up to their responsibilities and face the criminal herders headlong and clear the bushes in Apa and Agatu axis and even other parts of zone C. Enough is enough! No one has monopoly of violence”, he said.

“We pray the souls of the innocent farmers and Gallant Officers who were killed at Ijaha Ikobi in Apa and the souls of others, rest in peace Amen. 

The executive chairman of Apa local government council, Comrade Adam Ochega Ogwola confirmed the incident to newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday, describing the killing of the soldiers and innocent civilians as quite disturbing.

“Yes, I can confirm that two soldiers and two other civilians were killed by herders.

“At about 3:30am yesterday I received a call that there was an attack in Ikobi community and when I called some people,  there was no response from them. Later I heard that two soldiers were killed. So this morning, they discovered the bodies of the two civilians.

 “The attack took place at Ikobi community in Apa. The situation is relatively calm now. Soldiers and police are there to carry out their investigation to sure that normalcy return to that community.

” Because of the culture of our people, you don’t normally keep accidental dead bodies in the mortuary. We are in the period of hit and run herders. When it happens we may not allow the corpse(s) to stay beyond 24hrs. 

“So, they have been buried while the bodies of the late soldiers have been moved from that community.  But I don’t know whether they are in  mortuary in Ugbokpo or in mortuary in Makurdi”, the chairman stated.

Effort to get confirmation from the Benue State Police Command proved abortive as the spokesperson for the command, CSP Catherine Anene could not respond to calls and texts messages as at the time of filing this report.