From Joseph Uchenna, Makurdi
At least nine persons including a police officer have been reportedly killed in a renewed attack on Agatu communities in Benue State.
The attack is said be coming barely few days after the Miyeitti Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN raised the alarm of cattle rustling in the council.
According to locals, the incident started last Friday and lasted till Tuesday.
One of the residents of Agatu who simply identified himself as Odenyi told newsmen that the attackers always come from neighbouring states like Kogi, launch attack and run away.
Communities attacked included Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, Olegagbani and Ikpele.
According to him, “The attacks started last Friday at Okwutanobe where two people were killed, on Saturday they attacked Okpokpolo and killed one person.
“Yesterday, Monday, the armed attackers invaded Olegagbani where they killed one person, today (Tuesday) the same armed herders attacked Ikpele where they killed one police officer and four people.
When contacted, Chairman of Agatu LGA, James Melvin confirmed that nine people including a polce officer were killed in the past three days in some communities in the council.
The chairman said, “It’s true, 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.”
The chairman said he suspected that killings may have been reprisals on the alleged rustling of cattle by criminals.
“We totally condemned these attacks and I think it is a reprisal to their earlier report of cattle rustling in Agatu communities,” the chairman claimed.
He added: “We are appealing to them to give government time to investigate the allleged rustling instead of taking law into their hands.”
The council chairman who applauded security operatives in the council said that the terrain within the council is posing serious challenges to them.
“You know the roads in Agatu are bad, even when the security men receive distress call it can take them up to four hours to navigate some areas due to the bad terrain, so the armed attackers would have wreaked havoc and left, “the council chairman said.
When contacted, the Spokesperson of the Benue State Command, DSP, Udeme Edet said that she is yet to receive any information to that effect but added that there is presence of enough policemen in the council.
