Benue: Alleged cattle herders carry out deadly assault on Agatu, claiming lives of local king and several others

Tension has enveloped the Olegabulu community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State after a deadly assault by suspected armed herdsmen resulted in the loss of five lives, including a traditional ruler, his wife, their son, and two others.

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The late-night attack, which occurred on Thursday, also left numerous residents with varying degrees of injuries, prompting widespread fear and a mass exodus from the area.

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Olegabulu, a small settlement situated along the boundary between Agatu and Apa Local Government Areas, was reportedly targeted after youths in nearby communities successfully resisted a previous attack.

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A local political leader, who chose to remain anonymous, attributed the incident to a recent clash in the Atakpa community, stating that the attackers had redirected their anger towards the innocent Olegabulu community.

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The source revealed that the armed herders had initially attacked Atakpa, the hometown of the Agatu Local Government Chairman, and later returned, only to be repelled by the youths, after which they launched the deadly assault on Olegabulu.

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According to the source, the attack on Olegabulu resulted in the deaths of five people, including the chief, his wife, and son, while several others were shot and injured.

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The source expressed concern that the attackers were still present in the area, posing a significant threat to surrounding communities, and were believed to be hiding in the bush between Apa and Agatu Local Government Areas.

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The community was caught off guard by the attack, leading to a state of pandemonium, with many residents fleeing the area, including those from neighboring villages, who feared they could be targeted next.

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A relative of the source, who resides in Olegabulu, had informed him of the attack, prompting him to advise the residents to take cover, but by morning, many had already deserted the community.

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Agatu Local Government Chairman, Mr. Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the incident, stating that five people were killed, and added that security personnel had been deployed to the area to prevent further attacks and restore calm.

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When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, stated that she had yet to receive full details of the incident.