No fewer than nine people have been reportedly killed following an incursion on Egwuma, a community in Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
The affected victims including two soldiers, the village head of the community, and six others were said to have been killed during the incident that occurred on Tuesday.
Confirming the incident, a former member of the State House of Assembly representing Agatu constituency, Sule Audu said the attackers invaded Egwuma through its Akile axis, boycotting the road where soldiers were stationed.
He said, “They opened fire on people in their houses. They killed the clan head of the village and six others as well as two soldiers and carted away soldiers’ arms.
“One of the soldiers was seriously wounded. They went back to the part of Agatu land that they were occupying; villages like Ogwumogbo, Ejuma, Akile, Okpogbolo, Okpiye, and Echije.
“It was on Sunday that the people returned home after soldiers assured them of safety, then they were killed on Tuesday. The affected village had long been deserted following the bandit’s invasion. They would attack and run back to the villages they are occupying.”
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, did not give a precise response to the matter; she referred our correspondent to the military.
“Please find out from the military if they went for such an operation,” she said, ignoring further requests to clarify her comment.