11 murdered in Benue community fight, herders set houses ablaze

At least 11 people were allegedly murdered in separate attacks in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State on Sunday.

As indicated by the locals, nine people were murdered in a community fight between Ailla and Adagbo communities, while two were murdered by Fulani herdsmen in an invasion on Odugbeho community.

Top Naija learnt that Ailla and Adagbo communities were involved in a new community fight, which led to the demise of many people, while several others were wounded.

“There has been a protracted crisis between Ailla and Adagbo communities which resurfaced yesterday (Sunday). The cause of the renewed crisis is yet to be ascertained, but some people were killed and many others injured,” an indigene, who identified himself as Ada, stated.

Our reporter gathered that the same day, herders attacked Odugbeho community; precisely a week after group members invaded the community and murdered 27 people.

A local, who identified himself as Uloko, disclosed that the hoodlums invaded the village around 5.30pm on Sunday and burnt down 21 houses.

Uloko stated, “We heard privileged information about this Sunday attack and this was related to security operatives, who failed to act on the information given to them.

“It was around 5.30pm that they came, the same time they came last Sunday. They came in their numbers with superior firepower and shot continuously, burning down houses.”

The Chairman of the LGA, Sule Adohi, declared that nine people were murdered in the community fight and two people murdered in the attack by herdsmen.

Adohi further said that the herders set 21 houses ablaze.

The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene, declared that she had not got the report.