At least six people were killed when suspected herders attacked Iwari and Olagagbanea communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
The invaders initially struck Iwari village over the weekend, killing one person, before moving on to Olegagbane community, where they killed five more people.
A local resident, speaking anonymously, reported that armed attackers have surrounded all the villages in Agatu, preparing for further assaults. He said the suspected herders have been killing residents both in their farms and homes.
“On August 23rd, 2024, armed herders invaded Iwari community in Agatu LGA, killing one person and injuring several others. Then, on Friday, August 23rd, 2024, they also attacked the Olegagbane community, killing five people.”
The incident was confirmed by Phillip Ebenyakwu, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Agatu LGA, who expressed concern over the ongoing violence in the area. “It’s true, the situation has been confirmed,” he said.
“The attackers come, kill, steal, loot, and then flee. I don’t know their motives, but these attacks are intolerable. I am in communication with security agencies, and they are working on it. Our current challenge is managing the displaced people from the affected communities. As I speak, over 2,000 people have been displaced from at least seven, possibly nine, villages. The number of displaced individuals is overwhelming. Although the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) provided some relief materials, it was not enough,” he added.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, stated that she had not yet received information about the killings.
