Two residents of Ikpele and Okpokpolo in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State have been slain by gunmen who are thought to be armed herders.
Only a week had passed since an armed herder attack on several council settlements that claimed the lives of two troops and three soldiers. This Tuesday’s attack was then carried out.
Maj. Gen. Sunday Igbinowanhia, the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, confirmed the incident and stated that two soldiers and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps died thwarting the attack at Okokolo.
“The victory was achieved, but at a tremendous cost, with three of the troops making the ultimate sacrifice to stop the killing of the Okokolo residents and the planned sacking of the community,” he had stated.
On Wednesday, a community member who went by the name Oche told our correspondent that “another attack happened yesterday (Tuesday) night.”
“We don’t yet know the precise number of those who were slain during last night’s attack on Ikpele, Okpokpolo, and other locations by these gunmen.
“Until about ten o’clock at night, there was a fierce combat. So far, two bodies have been found. Numerous homes caught fire. In actuality, Oche stated, “at least 17 burned houses were counted within the attacked community last night.”
He continued by saying that people had abandoned their houses in the impacted communities.
Former local government official Mike Inalegwu, who served as Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, confirmed the attack and stated that there was a lot of animosity in the council area.
