An attack by suspected herdsmen has left 16 persons dead and two others injured in Ebete community, Usha council ward of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
The herdsmen stormed the area at about 1am on Wednesday and opened fire as residents scampered for safety.
The injured persons are said to be receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Obagaji, headquarters of Agatu LGA.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, in a statement by his spokesperson, lterver Akase, condemned the killings and urged security agencies to move swiftly to prevent such attacks in the future.
“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.
Force Commander Operation Whirl Stroke, Adeyemi Yekini, also confirmed the attack but could not give the total number of victims.
“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
“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,” he said.
