Two Soldiers, Village Head, and Six Residents Killed in Agatu Attack in Benue State

In a tragic incident on Tuesday evening, armed attackers killed two soldiers, a village head, and six residents in the Egwuma community of Agatu Local Government Area, Benue State. The assault, which occurred around 5 p.m., left the village in shock, with local sources reporting that the assailants also seized weapons from the slain soldiers and seriously injured another soldier.

Sule Audu, a former member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Agatu constituency, confirmed the attack during a phone interview with *Daily Trust*. He stated that a total of nine individuals, including the village head of Egwuma and the two soldiers, were killed in the assault.

“The incident happened between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The bandits attacked Egwuma through the Akile axis, bypassing the road where soldiers were stationed. They opened fire on people in their houses, killing the clan head and six others,” Audu explained. “They also took arms from the soldiers. One of the soldiers was seriously wounded. The attackers returned to the parts of Agatu land they occupy, such as Ogwumogbo, Ejuma, Akile, Okpogbolo, Okpiye, and Echije.”

Audu further mentioned that residents had only recently returned to the affected village after soldiers assured them of safety. “It was on Sunday that the people returned home after soldiers assured them of safety, then they were killed on Tuesday. The affected village had long been deserted following the bandits’ invasion,” he said. “They would attack and run back to the villages they occupy.”

The former lawmaker suggested that the attackers likely originated from Nasarawa and Kogi states, where they have established a presence, terrorizing local communities. Despite the soldiers’ previous efforts to mitigate violence in the area, the situation remains precarious.

When contacted, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer SP Catherine Anene stated that she had not yet received a detailed report regarding the attack. The ongoing violence in the region raises concerns about the safety of local residents and the effectiveness of security measures in place.