Fresh Benue attack claims three lives days after IGP visit

At least three people have lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries following fresh attacks by suspected armed herders on Elulu and Agadagba communities in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident happened just two days after Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu visited the state and assured residents of stronger security operations.

The attacks, carried out between Friday and Saturday night, add to the recent wave of violence in Benue despite renewed security efforts announced by both the federal and state governments.

Ohimini Local Government Chairman Gabriel Adole confirmed the development to journalists on Sunday.

According to him, the attackers first struck Elulu village on Friday before launching another assault on Agadagba community the following day.

“It is not only in Agadagba community that the armed herders killed people. They first attacked Elulu village the day before yesterday, killed somebody, attacked another person and collected his Bajaj motorcycle,” Mr Adole said.

“They also went to Agadagba village that very day to rustle cows, but the people repelled them. So, they shot one of them in the leg. They couldn’t rustle the cows from there again. Yesterday, being Saturday, they went out again and killed two persons in Agadagba.

“As I am talking to you, I am even preparing to go to the communities to pay them condolences.

“So far, three lives have been lost in the attacks. They injured two persons, the one whose bike they collected and the one they shot while attempting to rustle his cows. Both of them are still in the hospital receiving treatment.”

A resident of Agadagba, identified only as Ameh, said the gunmen initially tried to steal cattle but began shooting after residents resisted the attempt.

“The Fulani herdsmen attacked our community yesterday night and attempted to rustle cows. Some youths repelled them, but because the attackers were heavily armed, they shot at the youths and two of them died,” he said.

Mr Adole said security operatives and local vigilantes had been deployed to the affected communities to forestall further attacks.

He added that Governor Hyacinth Alia had ordered additional security reinforcement for the area.

Efforts to get a reaction from the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone were not answered as of the time this report was filed.

IGP’s visit

The latest attacks occurred less than 48 hours after the Inspector-General of Police visited Benue to assess the security situation and hold a strategic meeting with Governor Alia and other stakeholders.

During the visit on Thursday, Mr Disu promised to strengthen intelligence-driven policing and urged residents to share useful information with security agencies, assuring them that their identities would remain confidential.

Governor Alia also renewed his demand for the creation of state police, saying officers familiar with local communities and terrain would be better positioned to tackle security challenges.

The governor further expressed support for a proposed 14-day security operation across the state and reaffirmed his commitment to creating a safe environment for farmers to return to their communities.

Earlier attacks

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that at least eight people were killed on July 12 after suspected armed herders attacked Otukpo-Nobi and Akpachi communities in neighbouring Otukpo Local Government Area.

The killings sparked protests by youths, who blocked major roads while calling on the government to take urgent action against the recurring violence.

Amnesty International later urged authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the attacks, warning that repeated assaults on rural communities had forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes across Benue State.

The latest incident comes about a month after the chairman of the Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, were ambushed and killed on June 26 while returning from a peace meeting in Ohimini Local Government Area.

Following that incident, the police announced the arrest of suspects linked to the killings, while communities in Benue South raised concerns that fresh attacks could be retaliatory.

Residents and community leaders have continued to urge both the federal and Benue State governments to improve security in vulnerable communities to prevent further bloodshed.