Gunmen have struck once again, perpetrating deadly attacks across two local government areas (LGAs) in Benue State, resulting in five fatalities and the abduction of a woman.
The assaults occurred between Sunday and Monday, with Agatu and Gwer West LGAs bearing the brunt of the violence. In Agatu LGA’s Ikpele village, armed assailants launched an attack on Sunday evening, claiming four lives, including one individual who was gruesomely beheaded and three others who suffered amputations. Meanwhile, in Gwer West LGA, one person lost their life in another attack on the same day, bringing the total death toll from the Sunday onslaught across both LGAs to five, with numerous others sustaining injuries.
In Apa LGA, although no fatalities were reported, armed attackers seized a woman during an assault on the Otukpo-Adoka-Oweto highway, also injuring someone in the leg and targeting vehicle tires. The violence persisted into Monday along the same highway.
Ochayi Alidu, the Council Chairman of Apa LGA, acknowledged the attacks and assured ongoing efforts to address the situation. Joseph Adakole, a humanitarian worker, expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Idoma land, resulting in casualties, property damage, and the displacement of villagers.
Yakubu Ochepo, the Council Chairman of Agatu LGA, emphasized the urgent need for bolstered security measures to repel these attacks. He lamented the recent incursion in Ikpele village, where armed herders from Ogumogbo ambushed returning villagers following previous assaults, leading to loss of lives, injuries, and property destruction.
Efforts to obtain comments from the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, regarding the incidents were unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
