At least five persons, including a traditional ruler, his wife and son, were on Thursday night killed by suspected gunmen in Olegabulu community, Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the assailants, who reportedly struck at about 8pm, stormed the residence of the monarch and opened fire, killing him alongside two members of his household.
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A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said the attackers arrived on two motorcycles and initially interacted freely with residents in the local dialect, raising no suspicion.
“The men greeted people in our language when they arrived, so no one suspected danger. But immediately they entered the traditional ruler’s house, they started shooting and everyone ran for safety,” the source said.
The source added that the gunmen operated in the area for over 20 minutes, during which they moved to a neighbouring house and killed two additional victims, while leaving one other person injured.
The Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview on Friday, stating that five persons were killed and one injured.
“It is true. Five people were killed and one person sustained injuries. Security personnel have visited the scene,” he said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had yet to receive an official report of the attack as of the time of filing this report.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of the state, particularly in rural communities frequently targeted by armed groups.
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