Suspected armed herders came and attacked the Atakpa hamlet in Benue State’s Agatu Local Government Area, killing two people.
The Monday night incident caused terror among the people, some of whom have now left the area.
In a phone interview with our journalist on Tuesday, a local source going by the name Sunny claimed that the suspected armed herders had broken into the village on Monday night.
“These Fulani herdsmen invaded the Atakpa community in Agatu LGA yesterday (Monday) night and killed two youths who attempted to repel them,” he stated.
As you may remember, numerous individuals were killed in attacks on Friday and Sunday night in a few communities in the nearby Apa LGA.
Consequently, some of our young people who are part of the vigilance group came upon the herders while on surveillance in the Atakpa neighbourhood. Two persons were slain while trying to repel them.
Melvin Ejeh’s phone rang, so attempts to collect a comment from him were unsuccessful.
DSP Udeme Edet, a spokesman for the state Police Command, confirmed the attack on the neighbourhood, adding that one person was hurt and another was missing.
“There was a report of an attack on the Atakpa community, but nobody was killed,” Edet stated. One individual was struck by a stray bullet and is currently being treated at the hospital, while another is still unaccounted for.
“Searches are still being conducted to find the offenders, though.”
Just 24 hours had passed since the attack on Edikwu Ankpali villagers in Apa LGA, when multiple persons were reportedly slain.
At least eight members of the same family were killed by gunmen who also broke into Mbwelle village in Plateau State’s Bokkos Local Government Area on Thursday night.
