At least nine people, including a police officer, have been killed following a series of attacks allegedly carried out by suspected armed herders in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to residents, the assaults began on Friday and continued through Tuesday, affecting several communities including Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, Olegagbani, and Ikpele.
A local resident, who identified himself as Odenyi, explained that the attackers are believed to have crossed over from neighboring Kogi State to launch the assaults before retreating.
“The first attack happened last Friday at Okwutanobe, where two people lost their lives,” he said. “On Saturday, Okpokpolo was targeted, and one person was killed. Monday saw another attack in Olegagbani with one fatality, and on Tuesday, they struck again in Ikpele, killing four residents and a police officer.”
These incidents occurred just days after the Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria reported that about 340 cattle had been stolen in July, allegedly by criminals operating within Agatu.
The chairman of Agatu LGA, James Melvin, confirmed the attacks and death toll. “So far, we have recorded nine deaths — four in the earlier attacks on Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, and Olegagbani, and five more, including a police officer, in Ikpele,” he said.
Melvin suggested the violence may be a retaliatory act linked to the reported cattle theft. “We strongly condemn these attacks. While we understand there was a complaint about cattle rustling, taking the law into their own hands is unacceptable,” he said.
He urged the suspected herders to allow authorities to investigate the cattle theft claims rather than resorting to violence.
The chairman also highlighted the challenges facing security forces in the area, noting that poor road conditions in Agatu often delay emergency responses. “Even when security agents receive distress calls, it sometimes takes up to four hours to reach the affected areas due to the bad roads. By the time they arrive, the attackers have usually fled,” he explained.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, SP Udeme Edet, said she had not yet received official information regarding the attacks but confirmed that security personnel are stationed in the local government area.
