20 killed as suspected Fulani attack Benue community

Twenty people were killed early yesterday at Ogwule-Ankpa in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.


Governor Gabriel Suswam and his deputy, Steven Lawani, yesterday visited some internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by previous attacks.

The governor assured the people of tighten security so that those who fled their homes because of incessant attacks could return.

A source, who spoke in confidence, told our reporter that most of the victims were killed on their beds between 4am and 5am.

It was learnt that several people sustained gunshot injuries while the homes and household items worth millions of naira were destroyed during the attack.

Suswam spoke yesterday at the Catholic Church in Oshigbudu, after inspecting the damage at Enogaje, one of the communities attacked by the marauders in previous attacks.

The governor urged the people to be security-conscious and report suspicious persons to security agencies.

The governor made cash donations to most of the communities affected by the attacks.

He decried the renewed invasion in the state, despite several peace moves by the state government to halt the trend.

Besides Lawani, the governor was also accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr David Salifu; the police commissioner and state director of the State Security Service (SSS).

Police spokesman Daniel Ezeala, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the attack on the Agatu comunity.

He said a detachment of police had been deployed in the area.

The police spokesman urged the residents to report suspicious persons to the police.

Investigation, he added, had begun on the matter.