- The intervention of the military led to a gun battle with the attackers
Suspected herdsmen have killed two soldiers and seven villagers, including the village head, in an attack on Eguma community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday.
The assailants reportedly invaded the community at around 3 p.m. and opened fire on residents.
Audu Sule, a former lawmaker who represented Agatu at the Benue State House of Assembly between 2011 and 2019, confirmed the incident, describing it as yet another tragic assault on the area.
Sule stated that military personnel stationed in the neighbouring Ogwule village responded to a distress call from Eguma but were met with heavy gunfire, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers. The village head and six other residents were also killed in the attack, bringing the total casualty figure to nine.
“This is the fourth attack on Eguma and Ogwule communities in the last month. My people face serious security threats on a daily basis,” Sule told Channels Television.
He added that the intervention of the military led to a gun battle with the attackers, who eventually fled the scene. Local authorities and residents have continued to express concerns over the recurring violence in the area, calling for more robust security measures to protect the communities.
The Agatu Local Government Area has experienced persistent attacks in recent years, with clashes between farmers and herders leading to loss of lives and displacement of residents.