At least four people, including two soldiers, were killed in an attack on Okokolo community of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Locals told our correspondent in Makurdi, the state capital, that the military men were responding to threats of attacks on several Agatu communities on Thursday when the invaders ambushed them and gunned down two soldiers, leaving one of them seriously injured.
The villagers said the injured was immediately evacuated to Makurdi for treatment while another who allegedly scampered for safety in the bush was rescued at an adjourning village.
Godwin Abuh Edoh, who represents the Agatu people at the state’s House of Assembly, confirmed to our correspondent that two people were killed in the attack and several others injured.
He declined comment about the soldiers, emphasising that, “We don’t write death of soldiers for the military.”
Edoh added, “There was an attack from herdsmen. This happened yesterday (Thursday). We lost some lives. Some were injured. What happened was that, there was a threat of attacks on villages of Ocholonya and Ugboju k’ Ugbe since the past six days and those people deserted their place and relocated to Okokolo.
“So, it was Okokolo that the men came to attack yesterday. We lost two lives so far while a lot of others were injured. We are still monitoring their medication. We have passed the information about the situation to security agencies and the local government chairman. I have spoken to the Deputy governor of the state.”
Also in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, a former Agatu lawmaker, Audu Sule, confirmed the attacks on the people of Okokolo community in Agatu and ambushing of the military men who were responding to the attacks.
Sule said two soldiers were killed and others injured.
The military had yet to respond to the incident as calls and text messages put through the telephones of the Army 401Brigade Public Relations Officer, Captain Grutus and his counterpart of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Flight Lieutenant, Oquoh, remained unanswered.
Meanwhile, at the time of filing this story, villagers alleged that the invaders were shooting sporadically from across river Ochekwu (Ogbeyi G’okpa G’echo) and advancing again towards Okokolo main town.
The villagers said women and children have deserted their homes in droves while the invaders are surging through Olegomakwu, Olegonyilo, Nahem, Ocholonya, Abugbe, Ugboju, Odugbeho and Olegobidu villages of Agatu LGA.
“We are waiting for military reinforcements,” a local who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent.
Spokeswoman of the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, said she had not briefed about the incident.
