Benue Boils: Herdsmen’s 5-Day Killing Spree Claims 9 Lives, Sparks Outrage

At least nine individuals, including a police officer, have lost their lives in a string of brutal and coordinated attacks by suspected armed herders across four communities in Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

According to iReporter Online, the attacks, which began last Friday and continued through Tuesday, hit the villages of Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, Olegagbani, and Ikpele, causing widespread fear and sparking urgent calls for government intervention.

Sources indicate the assailants allegedly crossed into Agatu from neighbouring Kogi State, launched sustained assaults on the targeted communities, and retreated undetected.

The timeline of violence, as reported by residents, was chillingly systematic: two killed in Okwutanobe on Friday, one in Okpokpolo on Saturday, another in Olegagbani on Monday, and five more — including a police officer — in Ikpele on Tuesday.

Confirming the fatalities, Agatu LGA Chairman, James Melvin, stated, “Four people were killed in Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, and Olegagbani, while five others, including a police officer, were killed in Ikpele.”

He further suggested that the attacks may have been reprisal strikes following recent claims by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, which alleged that over 340 cattle were rustled in Agatu in July.

According to iReporter Online, Melvin condemned the killings in strong terms and urged herders to allow due process, rather than resorting to deadly violence. “If this is a reprisal, it is unacceptable,” he said, calling for restraint and thorough investigation by security agencies.

He also highlighted a critical challenge facing security operatives — the deteriorating road network. “The roads in Agatu are terrible. Even when alerted, police officers can take up to four hours to reach the affected communities — by which time, the attackers have vanished,” he lamented.

When contacted, SP Catherine Udeme Edet, spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, said no formal report had yet been filed but assured the public of an active police presence in the region.

According to iReporter Online, the escalating attacks have once again spotlighted the urgent need for improved infrastructure and stronger security coordination in Benue’s rural areas.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”