Again, armed bandits suspected to be herdsmen militia have attacked two Benue communities, Iwili, in Umogidi Ward and Entekpa community all in Adoka District of Otukpo Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state and killed 10 persons.
A source from the area, who didn’t want to be named, told newsmen that the attacks left several persons injured while the affected villages have been deserted.
According to the source, the armed herdsmen initially invaded the villages last Saturday afternoon, January 3, 2024, from Agatu LGA and were resisted by the youths of the communities.
He said: “They came from Agatu which they have been attacking since the beginning of the year. They came through Upaha in Apa LGA and accessed Iwili community in Umuogidi from where they also stormed Entekpa.
“After being resisted by the youths of the communities, they retreated and later remobilised and staged a comeback in the evening during which they sacked the community and killed over 10 persons while several others sustained injuries.
“As we speak the corpses of those killed have not been retrieved because the armed herdsmen have occupied the villages.
“Though the youths of the community are trying to put up a resistance, they are handicapped because they are armed with dane guns while the herdsmen are carrying sophisticated weapons.
“We gathered that security personnel have been sent to the communities but the youths have vowed that Adoka will not fall into the hands of invading herdsmen. There is mounting tension in Adoka and Otukpo as we speak.”
Efforts to reach the Caretaker Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Alfred Oketa, failed as he could not be reached on phone immediately.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene said she was not aware of the incident.
