A police officer and eight others have been killed in a fresg attack by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
The communities attacked were Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, Olegagbani and Ikpele.
A local in the area, who preferred anonymity, said the attackers invaded the communities from neighbouring Kogi State on Friday and sustained the incursion till, yesterday.
He told the Vanguard that, “The attacks started last Friday at Okwutanobe, where two people were killed. On Saturday they attacked Okpokpolo and killed one person.
“On Monday the armed herders invaded Olegagbani where they killed one person, today (yesterday) the same armed herders attacked Ikpele where they killed one Police officer and four people.
“As we speak, people are fleeing their homes but no one knows where they will attack next.”
Chairman of Agatu council, James Melvin confirmed that nine persons, including a police officer lost their lives in three days of sustained attacks on Agatu communities.
He said, “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.”
He lamented that the renewed attack could be a reprisal to claims by the herders that their cows were rustled by criminals.
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, who said he was yet to receive information on the development assured that there was deployment to the area.
Meanwhile, the newspaper also reported that there is tension between the Igede-speaking people of Oju and Obi Local Government Areas of Benue State and their neighbouring Tiv communities in Gwer East and Konshisha Local Government Areas following the killing of two middle-aged men, Jonathan Ogah and Gabriel Ogodo, from Oju LGA by suspected Tiv youths at Ulam community in Gwer East council of the state.
The duo, one of who only recently got married, were waylaid and allegedly killed, Monday by the Tiv youths on the Oju-Awajir road while traveling on motorbikes from Oju to Makurdi.
It was gathered that the killing of the close friends has escalated tension in that axis of the state after their bodies were recovered and taken home, forcing travellers, including students of the College of Education Oju to abandon the busy Oju-Aliade road.
It will be recalled that the Tiv and Igede-speaking communities of the state have over the years been embroiled in bitter acrimony over ownership of disputed farmland which has defied moves by successive governments to have it resolved.
Condemning the coldblooded murder of the two men, Governor Hyacinth Alia of the state in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula also decried a separate attack on Nyifon community in Mbaikyongo Ward of Buruku council.
The incident was reportedly carried out by youths from the Mbayaka community in Kusuv, also of Buruku council, following a misunderstanding linked to a boat mishap.
The governor issued a 48-hour ultimatum to securiry agencies to fish out the masterminds of the two incidents.
He described the two incidents, which happened separately in different councils of the state, as uncalled for and unfortunate, saying: “Nobody or group has the right to invade another community or inflict harm under any circumstance.
“He has directed the security agencies to move in, liaise with the traditional rulers of the areas concerned and ensure that they comb the vicinity thoroughly and within 48 hours, identify and apprehend the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to face the full wrath of the law.”
cpcnews.org 