Barely three days to the rescheduled general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), armed herdsmen suspected to be from Fulani extraction in the early hours of yesterday made an incursion into the Ebete Usha ward in Agatu local government area of Benue state leaving 17 local farmers and three Jukun hunters.

The Operation Whirl-Stroke (OPWS) of the Nigerian Army in a swift reply by its Commander, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, confirmed the killing, saying the attackers accessed the Agatu community through Loko in neighbouring Nassarawa State.

According to New Telegraph, the unprovoked attack which started at exactly 1:00 am when people were deeply asleep, saw scores of victims including women and children displaced, while many others were wounded.

Schools and hospitals and other economic and political activities in the area were also grounded to a halt.

Reacting to the incidents, the Acting Chairman Agatu Local Government Council, Hon. Alhaji Oyigocho appealed to the government to quickly come to their aid.

Alhaji Oyigocho said the attack occurred at a time Nigerians are preparing to elect their new leaders in this Saturday elections, adding that, if the situation continues, it will disorganize so many things.

He said his people have never taken laws into their hands despite provocations from herdsmen whom he said had taken over farmlands in most parts of Agatu land.

The Agatu chairman urged his people to remain calm to allow the law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties effectively.

The Commander of OPWS, Major Major General Yekini who said he received a report of the attack after the assailants attacked and retreated, could not give casualty figure but said that their men were deployed to the area on patrol.

He said, “the location where it happened, although is in Benue State can better be accessed through Loko in Nassarawa state”.

•Excerpted from a New Telegraph report.

Update news