55 Killed, Children Missing In Sustained Attack On Benue Communities

A total of 55 farmers have so far been killed in cold blood from January 18, 2024 to date by suspected armed herders in sustained attacks on Agatu local government area of Benue State.

This is even as our correspondent gathered that the armed herders after killing a large number of community members took along with them the children of the deceased to unknown destination.

The attacks, which LEADERSHIP Friday gathered started on January 18, 2024 and had continued unabated, has displaced thousands of people who are now seeking refuge in neighbouring Kogi State just as many are said to be missing.

It was also gathered that, in the first attack 32 corpses were recovered, eight corpses recovered in the second attack and the latest attack on Wednesday night claimed 15 persons and still counting. This brought the number of the people killed in Agatu from January to date to 55, while uncounted number of children were said to have been whisked away by the attackers.

While confirming the incidents in a text message, a member of the House of Assembly representing Agatu State constituency, Hon Godwin Edoh said another village in Agatu North, Ugboju Omaga was attacked and 15 persons were killed.

“We are calling on the government and other security agencies to come to the aid of Agatu people by chasing out the armed herders who are forcefully occupying the ancestral home of our people but it seems all our cries have fallen on deaf ears so we are just left at the mercy of God. What have my people done to deserve this inhuman and barbaric treatment. I totally condemn this attack on innocent people of Agatu who are bent on taking over and occupying our ancestral home by force,” he said.

Another source who pleaded anonymity said the attackers surrounded the villages on Wednesday night and were coming from different directions so there was no way the people could run out.

According to him, Ogwumogbo, Ikpele, Ejima and Okpokpolo have all deserted their homes, adding that yesterday’s attack was at Ogboju in Agatu and that they are still combing the bush to check for the corpses of missing persons and so far, 15 bodies of young men have been recovered.