A Benue community is in mourning after gunmen reportedly killed five residents, including a local traditional ruler and his family, in a vicious attack in Agatu Local Government Area of the North central state.
Reports indicated among the five people eliminated in the Thursday’s night deadly attack, were the monarch’s wife, his son and two other residents in Olegabulu community of Agatu.
It was also gathered that the attack took place when the assailants, who arrived on two motorcycles, stormed the monarch’s residence and opened fire on him and his family members.
One resident, who preferred anonymity due to the security implications, said four attackers carried out the operation. According to him, the assailants rode into the community without raising suspicion and went straight to the palace where they shot the monarch, his wife and son dead.
Describing the unsettling scene, the resident stated that the assailants had chillingly blended into the community by exchanging greetings in the local dialect, and they later moved to a neighbouring compound where two additional residents were killed before the attackers fled from the vicinity.
Another witness told some reporters that: “The attackers were not Fulani. When they arrived, they interacted freely with people in our dialect, so no one suspected that they were enemies. But immediately they entered the traditional ruler’s house, they opened fire and people started running for safety.
“They operated for about 20 minutes. After attacking the monarch’s residence, they moved to a nearby house and killed two more people. One person was injured before they fled.”
Confirming the unfortunate incident, Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin Ejeh, said five people were killed while one person sustained injuries, saying: “It is true the incident happened. Five people were killed and one person was injured during the attack.”
He disclosed that security personnel, including the police, have visited the scene. However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, claimed that details of the unfortunate incident were yet to reach her table, promising that an official statement would be released soon.
