Gunmen Claim Lives of Two Soldiers and Civilians in Agatu Ambush.
In a harrowing incident, Benue State witnessed a devastating attack as gunmen descended upon communities in the Agatu Local Government Area, claiming the lives of two soldiers and two civilians on Friday.
The armed assailants targeted several villages, including Abugbe, Okokolo, Ugboju, Odugbeho, and Olegobidu, leaving a trail of tragedy in their wake. The violence escalated when the gunmen ambushed two soldiers stationed in the council area for peacekeeping duties during a routine patrol.
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Local residents revealed that the attacks had been ongoing for a few days before reaching a critical point when the armed men reached Okokolo, launching a brutal assault on its unsuspecting inhabitants.
Godwin Edo, the lawmaker representing the Agatu state constituency in the State House of Assembly, confirmed the attacks, attributing them to herdsmen.
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Edo reported that the aggression began with threats against villages like Ocholonya and Ugboju K’ Ugbe for the past six days, prompting residents to abandon their homes and seek refuge in Okokolo. Unfortunately, the attackers followed them, resulting in the loss of two lives and numerous injuries.
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Mike Inalegwu, the immediate past Commissioner for Information Culture and Tourism, provided additional details, stating that the herdsmen came with their militia and opened fire at Okokolo, Ugboju, and Akpa, forcing residents to flee.
The soldiers, stationed at Akpu for eight years, responded to the gunshots but were ambushed by the armed herdsmen. The commander was shot, two soldiers lost their lives, and one remains missing.
Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
Joseph Har, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Security and Internal Affairs, confirmed the attack but expressed a lack of detailed information. Deputy Governor and state security chiefs have since visited the area for a firsthand assessment.
The assault in Agatu adds to the grim history of attacks that Benue State faced in the previous year, with the Commissioner for Information, Inalegwu, revealing that over 5,000 lives were lost in the state within seven years as a result of such violent incidents.
Ejes Gist News understands, that the recent tragedy underscores the urgent need for comprehensive security measures and swift action to safeguard the lives of the residents in Benue State.
