17 People Killed by Arm Invaders in Benue

From George Okoh in Makurdi

About 17 people have been killed in different villages of two Local Government Areas in Benue State.

According to residents of the area, who spoke on telephone to reporters, the separate incidents happened within the past three days in Agatu and Kastina-Ala LGAs respectively.

Witnesses said 15 people were allegedly killed in Kastina-Ala communities by armed invaders while the remaining two lost their lives in Agatu in circumstances which some blamed on the activities of cultists.

The residents of Katsina Ala, alleged that though the town may recently appeared peaceful, however, there are deserted rural communities where the remaining inhabitants were still being killed.

“Let no one lie, the killing is still ongoing in the rural areas most especially in Mbatyula, Mbayongo and Yooyo council ward of the Kastina-Ala LGA.

“Not less than seven people in Mbatyula council ward were killed on Tuesday while Emmanuel Apever’s wife from Kenvanger was abducted to an unknown destination. In Tse Ate, three persons were killed and another two persons also killed at Saawua compound while three were reportedly killed in Tse Asaa. All in Mbagbeentya community of Mbatyula council ward,” a resident alleged.

Information Officer of the Kastina-Ala Council, Tertsea Benga, confirmed the development, saying that some armed invaders were killing villagers despite the success recorded so far by security operatives drafted to the area.

On his part, the Secretary of Agatu LGA, Sunday Oteyi, said that two persons who went fishing in Aila, a rural community in Agatu, were hacked to death by unidentified culprits.

He said the bodies of the deceased have been recovered by the police in the area and deposited in an hospital morgue.

When Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue Command, DSP Catherine Anene, earlier said she would find out if there were such reports from police in the affected areas. Anene, however, at the time of sending this report, was yet to do so.