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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia have again killed nine persons including a police officer in a renewed attack on Agatu communities.
The attack is coming barely a few days after the Miyetti Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN) raised an alarm that over 340 cattle belonging to their members were rustled in the council.
Locals told newsmen in Makurdi that the incident started last Friday and lasted till Tuesday.
One of the residents of Agatu who simply identified himself as Odenyi said the suspected armed herders always come from Kogi State to launch an attack and ran back.
Communities attacked included Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, Olegagbani and Ikpele.
“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.”
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Chairman of Agatu LGA, James Melvin confirmed that nine people including a police officer were killed in the past three days in some communities in the council. “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.”
The chairman suspected that the killings may be a reprisal over the alleged rustling of their cattle by criminals.
“We totally condemn these attacks and I think it was a reprisal to their earlier report of cattle rustling in Agatu communities.
“We are appealing to them to give government time to investigate the alleged rustling instead of taking the law into their own hands.”
The council chairman who applauded security operatives in the council said the terrain within the council 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 wreak havoc and leave” the council chairman said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said she was yet to receive any information on the incident. She, however, added that there is adequate presence of policemen in the council.
