Rita Odafe
Tragic Attack in Benue State
On Tuesday, armed men believed to be herdsmen attacked a community in Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and seven villagers.
The village head of Eguma was among those killed during this violent incident.
Audu Sule, a former representative in the Benue State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2019, reported that the assault began around 3:00 PM. The assailants opened fire indiscriminately on the residents.
Although military forces stationed nearby in Ogwule responded quickly to the emergency, they too faced intense violence, with two soldiers losing their lives alongside the village leader and six other villagers, raising the death toll to nine.
Sule mentioned that this incident marks the fourth assault on the villages of Eguma and Ogwule in just one month, highlighting the ongoing security challenges faced by the local community.
The military’s intervention sparked a confrontation with the attackers, who eventually retreated after the fatalities occurred.
In response to inquiries regarding the incident, State Police Spokesperson Sewuese Anene stated that the police had not received any updates or shared intelligence regarding the attacks in Agatu.
