13 feared dead, many injured as bandits launch fresh attacks on Benue LGAs

No fewer than 13 persons have reportedly been killed with many others injured during two separate attacks by gunmen in two LGAs of Agatu and Gwer West in Benue State.

Sources say 12 persons were killed on Sunday evening by the marauders at Egwuma village in Agatu LGA while another was killed at Tse Iyo in Sengev Council Ward of Gwer West.

Five others were declared missing after the attacks.

The lawmaker representing Agatu State Constituency, Godwin Edoh confirmed the attack to journalists on Monday, July 15.

Edoh lamented the ceaseless attacks on his constituents by armed herdsmen appealed to the government to take decisive action to end the mindless killings.

“12 people were killed in the attack. We are tired and the problem is still there that is why I am complaining. Government has to be decisive about what to do about the area,” Edoh said.

“The communities are so porous. Ogbumogbo, Ejima and all those areas down to Ikpele, those villages have been deserted for close to one year. So it is like a colony of herdsmen.

“What they do is that they come over with their cattle’s from morning and they stay there to graze until they want to go back.

And they come back there any time because the people have left the villages and nothing is being done about it.”

Chegheza Igbasue, a youth leader and survivor of the attack in Tse Iyo, Gwer West, who narrowly escaped death, said they were ambushed by the armed me while on their way from the farm.

“The armed herders attacked and killed 30-year-old Ikyumbu Aondowase while 45 years old Mr. Achin Terzungwe was badly wounded and taken to Naka  the LGA headquarters for treatment.

“He [Terzungwe] explained that they were coming back from the farm to Agagbe through Tse Iorbogo, not knowing that the armed herders had laid ambush on the bad portion of the road and were waiting for who to killed.

“They started shooting as soon as they got close, Mr Ikyumbu Aondoawase was killed and Achin Terzungwe was badly wounded and five other people went missing after the attack.”

Police spokesperson, Catherine Anene, confirmed the attack in Agatu but said she had no information about the incident at Gwer West as at press time.