At least four people have been confirmed dead and several others injured following two separate attacks in Apa and Agatu Local Government Areas of Benue State.
The twin assaults reportedly occurred on Monday around 5:30 p.m., along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu Road in Agatu and at Edikwu ’Icho community as well as Ugbokpo, the headquarters of Apa LGA.
Among the casualties was Sunday Dutse, a native of Odejo and the younger brother of a former Chairman of Agatu Council. He was the sole victim of the Agatu incident.
According to Vanguard, Dutse had been previously displaced after armed herders attacked his village, forcing him to relocate to Ogwule-Kaduna, also in Agatu LGA. It was from there that he embarked on the ill-fated journey which led to his death.
A witness said: “Dutse was killed on Monday, while travelling on Odugbeho-Ogbaulu Road. We were told the vehicle he was traveling in ran into an ambush by armed men who stopped the vehicle and shot him dead.”
In the second incident in Apa LGA, the attackers reportedly ambushed and killed three youths. The source added: “They attacked and killed two youths in Edikwu ’Icho community and shortly after killed another youth in an attack on Ugbokpo.”
He lamented the impact of the violence, saying: “It is unfortunate that these attacks have led to the displacement of the people of the communities who have fled their homes when they are supposed to be in their farms.”
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as of press time.