Bloody day in Benue community as suspected herdsmen kill 16 people, others injured

About 16 people were killed in Ebete
community in Usha council ward of Agatu
Local Government Area of Benue State on
Wednesday when suspected attacked the
community.
Reports also say another two people were
injured.
Our correspondent gathered the herdsmen
stormed the area at about 1am when the
residents were fast asleep. They reportedly
opened fire on houses as the attacked
community residents attempted to escape in
the ensuing melee.
After the attackers escaped, 16 people were
confirmed dead while two others sustained
injuries. They are said to be receiving
treatment at General Hospital in Obagaji,
headquarters of Agatu LGA.
An eyewitness, Daddy Seni, who spoke to our
correspondent in Makurdi, said his father and
siblings were among the deceased.
The Acting Chairman of Agatu local
government council, Alhaji Oyigocho, also
confirmed the incident. He said he had visited
Ebete community with some council
members in company of security agencies.
The Force Commander Operation Whirl
Stroke, Maj Gen Adeyemi Yekini, said the
armed bandits actually invaded there areas
but that they were yet to ascertain the
number of casualties.
“I received a report this afternoon that some
people were killed in Agatu by suspected
armed bandits. I’m not sure of the number of
casualty yet but I don’t think it’s up to 16. We
have sent a patrol team to the general area
where the incident happened. The location
where it happened, although is in Benue can
better be accessed through Loko in
Nasarawa State”.

Yekini, in a statement explained, he had
already deployed a patrol team to the area
verify what really happened.
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom
described the incident as quite unfortunate
and condemnable. He urged security
agencies to move to forestall further attacks
on innocent people of Benue State. Ortom,
who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary,
lterver Akas
e, said Benue can’t afford
another rounds of killings close to general
elections.

“Yes I can confirm that the governor of Benue
State met earlier today with the
commissioner of Police Mr. Bishi and he
confirmed that there was attack in Ebete in
Agatu earlier today in which seventeen
persons were killed by suspected armed
herdsmen. We feel that this is unfortunate
because the governor has raised an alarm
that some persons for political reasons are
planning to unleashed armed herdsmen on
innocent Benue people, to create fear in the
people for political gains,” he said.
Source: The Nation
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