BLOODBATH IN BENUE: 55 killed, many missing as herdsmen attack Agatu, others

A series of sustained attacks in Agatu local government area of Benue State, Nigeria, has resulted in the cold-blooded killing of 55 farmers by suspected armed herders from January 18, 2024, to the present date. Disturbing reports indicate that, following the brutal attacks, the armed herders abducted the children of the deceased and took them to an unknown destination.

The assaults, which commenced on January 18, 2024, have continued unabated, causing the displacement of thousands of people. Many are now seeking refuge in neighbouring Kogi State, while numerous others are reported missing. The casualties include 32 corpses recovered in the first attack, eight in the second, and an additional 15 in the latest attack on Wednesday night.

A member of the House of Assembly representing Agatu State constituency, Hon Godwin Edoh, confirmed the incidents in a text message, expressing the urgent need for government intervention to address the escalating violence. He called on security agencies to expel the armed herders who have forcibly taken over the ancestral homes of the Agatu people.

Despite pleas for assistance, the attacks persist, leaving residents at the mercy of God. An anonymous source revealed that the attackers surrounded villages on Wednesday night, making it impossible for people to escape. Villages such as Ogwumogbo, Ikpele, Ejima, and Okpokpolo have been deserted, with Ogboju being the latest target.

The situation remains dire, as locals are still searching the bush for the corpses of missing persons, discovering 15 bodies of young men so far.