The Benue State Police Command reported a tragic incident on Monday in which suspected herders allegedly attacked the Egwuma community in Agatu Local Government Area, killing five people.
Confirming the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Makurdi, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Sewuese Anene, affirmed the tragic event and pledged that the authorities are doing all in their power to address the situation and uncover the perpetrators of the heinous act.
In response to the unrest, Superintendent Anene stated that the Benue State Police Command had swiftly mobilized additional forces to the affected region, ensuring a heightened presence of law enforcement to safeguard the peace and security of the community.
The Agatu constituency representative in the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr Godwin Edoh, affirmed the attack on the Egwuma community, claiming that the number of fatalities might be as high as 12, based on the information available to him.
Edoh expressed his distress over the ongoing spate of murders that have been plaguing his constituents in Agatu, imploring both the local and federal governments, along with security agencies, to adopt swift and proactive measures to forestall further violence and safeguard the lives of the citizens under his representation.
The lawmaker stated “Government has to be decisive on what to do about this area because it is so porous.
“The Ogbumogbo, Ejima and other villages down to Ikpele, have been deserted for close to one year.
“The herders come over to the deserted villages with their cattle for grazing in the morning and leave in the evening.
“They are able to do these, because the villagers had left their communities for fear of attacks and the security agents are not doing enough to address this development.”
