From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia have attacked Ugboju community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, killing a yet to be specified number of people.
As at the time of filing this report on Thursday, about 15 dead bodies have already been recovered after the attack on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.
According to locals, many people were still missing after the invasion of the village on Wednesday evening by the invaders who had continued attacks on the area since November 2023.
A villager who spoke to our correspondent on telephone, Thursday, said that they are helpless over the situation and that before noon more bodies may be discovered as search parties were currently combing the bushes for missing persons.
Prince Inalegwu Simon, who hails from the Ugboju village told newsmen in Makurdi that the attackers besieged them around 3pm on Wednesday.
“It was around 3pm yesterday (Wednesday), those armed herders came to my village and killed 15 persons. Some persons have been displaced from home. Before now, we had no issue with them (attackers),” Simon posited.
Meanwhile, the member representing Agatu constituency in the State House of Assembly, Godwin Edoh, has decried the fresh attacks and killings in his area.
Edoh said, “I’m frustrated as a representative of my people by their cries. I have forwarded all the above (gory photos of dead bodies recovered) to the WhatsApp lines of both the Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia and his Deputy, Sam Ode.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Benue state command, SP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive information about the incident from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Agatu.
“Let’s wait for the DPO, I will confirm from him. As we speak there are so many police team in Agatu who were deployed there,” Anene said.
Our correspondent reports that over 40 persons have so far been murdered in Agatu local government area of Benue State following the attacks which started in November 2023.