No fewer than 10 people were killed by gunmen during an attack on a community in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
The gunmen were said to have terrorised the Olegumachi village in Agatu, burning down houses.
The incident on Tuesday evening occurred just four days after three people, including an elderly couple, were killed in the Ikpele village of the same local government.
According to an anonymous local, gunmen entered Olegumachi on Tuesday evening, killing numerous individuals and setting fire to many residences.
Phillip Ebenyakwu, the chairman of the local government, confirmed the incident to journalists over the phone on Wednesday, saying that ten people were killed and seven houses were set on fire.
The chairman said, “Yes, it’s confirmed. There was an attack. What they gave me is 10 (those killed).
“They (the gunmen) were armed with sophisticated weapons; they were looting, robbing, and burning houses, and they killed people.
“About seven houses were burned down; they went away with many properties and animals, such as goats and fowl.
Ebenyakwu stated that he had reported the event to both the police and the Department of State Security.
When reached, Catherine Anene, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, stated that she had yet to receive the report from the Divisional Police Officer in Agatu.
