*Killing unfortunate, condemnable-Ortom
NO fewer than 17 persons have been reportedly killed at the wee hours of Tuesday in Ebete, Usha Ward in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The attack which was said to be unprovoked took place at about 1am when the people were fast asleep.
According to an eye witness, Daddy Seni whose father was also killed alongside his siblings, he left his father at Ebete while heading to Aloko for fishing when he received a call from his father asking him to turn back, that he has been shot by Fulani herdsmen.
Seni who said he wanted to take his father who was lying in the pool of his blood to the hospital, said his father, who he said was gasping for breath told him, “my son, don’t bother about me and your siblings again, ours have finished, we can’t survive this gunshots, run for your dear life to tell others about this”, then he gave up the ghost.
The eye witness further said he heard the killers speaking Fulani language while trying to run from the scene.
Seni who said he has reported the incident to the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, Hon. Alhaji Oyigocho, also said three Jukun hunters were among the 16 persons killed.
He further disclosed that two other Jukun hunters who survived the attack have been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
Hon. Oyigocho who reacted to the unfortunate incident, appealed to the government to quickly come to the aid of the area, more so as the incident has taken place at the eve of the general elections.
The Agatu council chairman said his people have never taken laws into their hands despite provocations from herdsmen whom he said had taken over farm lands in most parts of the local government area, a development he said he made public in the media.
He urged Agatu sons and daughters to remain calm and allow the law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties effectively.
When contacted, the spokesperson of Benue State police command, DSP Catherine Sewuese Anene said she was yet to be briefed on the development.
However, Governor Samuel Ortom, through his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Terver Akase confirmed the incident and described it as unfortunate and condemnable.
“Yes, I can confirm that the governor of Benue state met earlier today with the Commissioner of Police, Mr Bishi and he confirmed that there was an attack at Ebete in Agatu earlier today in which 17 persons were killed by suspected armed herdsmen.
“The government of Benue state condemned this and urges security agencies to immediately move in to forestall further attacks on innocent people of Benue state. This is because we can’t afford to have another round of killing that we had in 2018.
In same vein, Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, a military spike operation fighting insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, Maj. Gen. Adeyemi Yekini said he received a report yesterday afternoon that some persons have been killed by armed bandits in Agatu.
“I’m not sure of the number of casualty but I don’t think it’s up to 16. We have sent a patrol team to the general area where the incident happened, although is in Benue can be assessed through Loco in Nasarawa
