killed while seven villages were overrun by
suspected Fulani herdsmen in an outbreak
of fighting between the invaders and native
farmers in Agatu Local Government Area of
Benue State. Seven farmers had been killed and over 6,000
inhabitants displayed barely two days ago
when some assailants attacked Ikpele and
Okpopolo communities in the state. Narrating his ordeal, a native of one of the
affected communities, who escaped the
assault said, "they (Fulani herdsmen) took
us unawares this time; they invaded our
villages from Loco in Nasarawa State and
Omola Local Government Area of Kogi State. "But as I speak to you, well over 36 persons
must have been killed on our own side while
many are still missing; the situation on
ground is horrible because fighting is still
going on while women, children and the
elderly are fleeing to safety." Confirming the bloodletting, Benue State
Commissioner for Works and Transport,
John Ngbede, who is an indigene of the area
said, "Heavy fighting is still going on in
Agatu. The attackers are burning down
houses, farmlands, economic trees and many are also being killed but i cannot
confirm the number of deaths. All I can say
is that Agatu is boiling". Also confirming the massacre, member
representing Agatu Constituency at the
Benue State House of Assembly, Sule Audu
said, seven villages had been attacked while
many were killed and several persons
missing. According to him, the villages under siege
include Ello, Okpagabi, Ogwule-Ankpa,
Ogbangede, Ekwo, Enogaje and
Okpanchenyi. Audu lamented inadequate security
presence on ground in the affected
communities, saying, "As I speak to you,
only few soldiers are on ground who don't
even have mobility to match the strength of
the invaders. "The attackers are over 5,000 spread across
all the communities and unleashing terror
on my people without resistance. "They are moving towards Oshugbudu now
and I ask, what can less than 40 soldiers on
ground do to stop armed invaders numbering
up to 5,000?" In his confirmation, Benue State Police
Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy
Superintendent, Daniel Ezeala, said, "Five
Agatu villages are currently under heavy
attack. We can't confirm the exact number
of causalities or deaths for now, but I can assure you that a combined team of the
police and army personnel have already been
drafted to the affected communities to
arrest the situation, and the situation is
under control.
Post a Comment