At least three people have been killed and two others injured in fresh attacks by suspected armed herders on Elulu and Agadagba communities in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State. The attacks, which occurred between Friday and Saturday night, came barely two days after Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu visited the state and pledged intensified intelligence-driven operations to tackle insecurity.
The Chairman of Ohimini Local Government, Gabriel Adole, confirmed the incidents to journalists on Sunday. He stated that the attackers first struck Elulu village, killing one person, injuring another and collecting his Bajaj motorcycle. They later moved to Agadagba in an attempt to rustle cattle but were repelled by residents, during which one person was shot in the leg. The following day, the attackers returned and killed two persons in Agadagba. The two injured victims remain in hospital receiving treatment.
A resident of Agadagba, who identified himself as Ameh, said the attackers attempted to rustle cattle before opening fire on residents who resisted them. Mr Adole noted that community vigilantes and other security personnel had been deployed to the affected communities, adding that Governor Hyacinth Alia had directed additional security support to the area. He expressed confidence that the perpetrators would be apprehended.
The Benue State Police Command spokesperson could not be reached for comment at the time of the report. The attacks occurred shortly after the IGP’s operational assessment and security meeting with Governor Alia, during which the police chief urged residents to provide credible information to security agencies. Governor Alia renewed his call for the establishment of state police and pledged support for a proposed 14-day security sweep across the state.
The latest violence follows earlier attacks in the state, including the killing of at least eight people on 12 July in Otukpo Local Government Area, which triggered protests and a call by Amnesty International for an independent investigation.
