Tragedy struck Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State on Wednesday when suspected armed herders launched coordinated assaults on Egwuma and Ogbai communities, killing four people, including a mother and her son.
Residents said the victims were working on their farms when the attackers invaded. Two other persons were reported missing at the time of filing this report, as search efforts continued.
A local, who gave his name as Inalegwu, recounted the incident in a phone call.
He said, “Some herdsmen attacked Egwuma and Ogbai communities today, they killed a woman and his son who were working on their farm and also killed two others at neighbouring Ogbai community.
As I am talking to you now, two people are still missing and we are searching for them.”
The Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James, confirmed the killings, describing them as both senseless and barbaric.
He lamented, “This is an unprovoked attack on our people, it’s senseless and barbaric. How could people attack and kill a mother and her son who were working on their farm?
The incident happened today (Wednesday) at Egwuma, where they killed an innocent mother and her son working on their farm, and the other two people were killed at a neighbouring Ogbai community.”
James further noted that the assault coincided with the period security operatives were on patrol in other parts of the LGA.
“The security operatives in Agatu have been doing their best to beef up security, but the problem in my council is the bad roads. At the time the incident happened, the security men were on surveillance of other areas,” he explained.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said she was on an official tour and had not yet received the report.
“As you can hear voices underground, we are on tour and I am yet to get the report, but I will get back to you later,” she stated.
Armed herders kill mother, son, two others in fresh Benue attack
