Armed men have killed at least 15 villagers in Ugboju community of Agatu Local Government Area, Benue State.
Many other villagers are reported still missing after the invasion of the village on Wednesday evening, January 31, 2024, by the assailants who had continued attacks on the area for two weeks.
According to a local, the bodies were recovered Thursday morning, adding that the people were helpless over the situation, adding that before noon, more bodies might be discovered as search parties continued to comb bushes for missing persons.
Prince Inalegwu Adagole Simon, who hails from the affected village, said from Makurdi that the attackers invaded the community around 3:00 pm on Wednesday.
“It was around 3:00 pm yesterday (Wednesday) those attackers came to my village and killed 15 persons. Some persons have been displaced from their homes. Before now, we had no issue with them (attackers),” Simon said.
The member representing Agatu constituency in the State House of Assembly, Godwin Edoh, also decried the fresh killings which he said happened on Wednesday.
Edoh said, “I’m frustrated as a representative of my people by their cries. I have forwarded all the gory photos of the bodies recovered to the WhatsApp lines of both the governor and his deputy.”
The spokesperson of the police in Benue, Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive information about the incident from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Agatu.
Anene said she was waiting for the DPO, adding that “I will confirm with him. As we speak, there are so many police teams deployed to Agatu.”
Source: 21st Century Chronicle
