Benue residents flee, as police personnel, eight others killed by gunmen

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

No fewer than Nine persons including a police personnel have been reportedly killed in a fresh attack on some communities in Agatu local government area of Benue State.

The attack is coming after some days that members of the Miyeitti Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN raised the alarm of their cattle are been rustled in the area.

It was gathered that attacks started  last Friday and lasted till Tuesday, leading to displacement of several residents.

A source from one of the communities who spoke on phone on condition of anonymity, told The Nations News that the armed herders that the launched deadly attacks on Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, Olegagbani and  Ikpele communities, leaving many people injured.

He revealed that the Marauders usually come from Kogi State launched to carry out their nefarious activities  and withdraw back.

“The attacks started last Friday at Okwutanobe where two people were killed,  on Saturday they attacked Okpokpolo and they killed one person.

“Yesterday, Monday, the armed herders invaded Olegagbani where they killed one person, today (Tuesday) the same armed herders attacked Ikpele where they killed one police officer and four people.

The Executive Chairman of Agatu LGC  James Melvin Ejeh confirmed the development, saying that nine persons including a police officer were killed in the past three days in some communities in the area

“It’s true,i can confirm to you that four people were killed in Okwitanobe, Okpokpolo and Olegugbani while five people including a police officer were killed in Ikpele today.

“I suspect that the killings may be a reprisal on the alleged rustling of their cattle by criminals.

‘”We totally condemned these attacks and i think it was a reprisal to their earlier report of cattle rustling in Agatu communities”, Ejeh stated.

He appealed to the herders to stop the attacks and give government time to investigate the alleged rustling instead of taking law into their hands.

Ejeh however commended  security operatives Agatu for plighting the terrain within the council which is posing serious challenges to them.

“You know the roads in Agatu are bad, even when the security men receive distress call it can take them up to four hours to navigate some areas due to the bad terrain, so the armed herders would wreaked havoc and left, ” tje council chairman said.

Meanwhile, when contacted  Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer PPRO DSP, Udeme Edet said that she was yet to receive any information to that effect.