Suspected Herdsmen Invade Benue Community, Kill 30

By George Okoh

No fewer than 30 people were on Sunday killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen following an attack on Odugbeho village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to a resident, Mr Isaac Oche, the number of the deceased could be more as more bodies are being recovered from the bush and other settlements.

He stated that the herdsmen invaded the village around 5:45pm and started shooting sporadically, killing anyone on sight and disappeared into the bush around 6:40 pm after killing so many people.

He added that when some of the villagers, who escaped the attack came back, no fewer than 11 copses were discovered at the village centre.

“We cannot stay any longer to recover all the dead bodies this night because it is dark and no security. I believe more bodies will be recovered when the day breaks and security agents are around,” he said.

The herdsmen were believed to have come from Nasarawa State, passed through the neighbouring local government of Gwer West in a guerrilla style and have taken them unawares.

He said the high number of casualties is due to the fact that it was on Sunday and most people were at home.

Corroborating the first eyewitness account, another eyewitness, Iyu Goche, said he was one of the youths that searched and recovered the corpses, adding that the death toll may rise in the morning.

He said Fulani herdsmen from Nasarawa State have been invading the riverine areas of Guma, Makurdi and Agatu Local Government Areas, killing many people and displacing thousands of inhabitants.

“They are currently occupying the deserted villages, denying inhabitants access to their farms in the ongoing cropping season,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government, Mr Sule Adoyi, has said that 27 bodies have been recovered from the scenes of the attack.

He said more search is ongoing, adding that security agents have been informed about the killings.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command could not be reached to confirm the incident as several calls made to his phone were not answered.