Tension continues to grip the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State following a deadly string of attacks that left nine people dead, including a police officer.
The assaults, believed to have been carried out by suspected armed herders, swept across four communities bordering Kogi State in a span of four days.
Residents say the violence began last Friday in Okwutanobe, where two lives were claimed. The next day, Okpokpolo was hit, resulting in another death.
The bloodshed continued into Monday with an incursion into Olegagbani, where one person was reportedly killed.
The most devastating of the attacks occurred Tuesday in Ikpele, where four civilians and a police officer were gunned down.
Eyewitnesses described the attackers as “heavily armed” and moving in coordinated fashion between the villages.
“People are running for their lives. Entire families are fleeing,” one community member told reporters under anonymity.
The Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the attacks and the death toll, stating that five of the victims, including the officer, were killed in the Tuesday onslaught in Ikpele. He said the violence appears to be retaliatory.
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“We believe this is in response to allegations of cattle rustling in Agatu. While we do not condone theft, there is a process for addressing such claims — not by slaughtering innocent people,” Ejeh said.
Ejeh praised the efforts of security personnel who responded swiftly but highlighted a persistent issue: poor road infrastructure.
“Agatu’s terrain is extremely difficult. Sometimes, it takes hours for our security forces to reach affected areas. By the time they arrive, the damage is already done,” he lamented.
The Benue State Police Command has yet to release an official statement. When contacted, spokesperson Udeme Edet acknowledged the reports but said the command was still verifying the situation.
Meanwhile, fear and uncertainty loom over the region. Displaced families are now seeking refuge in neighboring areas, as residents call for urgent government intervention and improved security presence.
This wave of violence adds to the growing security challenges in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where farmer-herder conflicts have led to hundreds of deaths in recent years.