Three farmers in Benúe State’s Ogbaulu hamlet inside Agatu Local Government Area were slain by bandits while they worked on their farms.
Speaking with reporters on Saturday, May 4, 2024, a local reported that the victims were ambushed by the bandits on Friday afternoon while they were working at their respective farms.
“Three persons were slaughtered again by unknown gunmen on Friday at their farms in the Ogbaulu community,” the source said.
The victims were killed by hacking after the perpetrators entered Agatu LGA through neighbouring Apa LGA, according to Yakubu Ochepo, the chairman of Agatu LGA, who confirmed the attack on Saturday.
“It’s true the incident happened on Friday and the attackers came through Apa LGA, two of the deceased were natives of Agatu while the other victim hailed from Apa LGA,” he said.
The LGAs of Otukpo and Apa Agatu were recently among those most severely affected by bandit assaults.
His Royal Majesty, the Och’Idoma, Dr John Eliagwu Odogbo, the paramount monarch of the Idoma nation, denounced the latest wave of attacks within Agatu and its surroundings, expressing his distress over the ongoing killings and attacks in his realm.
In a statement, his media assistant Onuminya Odoba said that the royal father was saddened by the three people who were allegedly killed on their fields.
The news that people were being killed by as-yet-unidentified perpetrators while they were going about their legal business deeply distressed the king, he said.
“Agaba-Idu calls on the Police and local vigilantes to nip this trend on the sprout, investigate, and bring culprits to answer for the crime as humanity,” the statement read in part.
“Agaba-Idu assures all law-abiding persons in Idoma land of peaceful living within the kingdom, and is working round the clock with his Council of Chiefs in collaboration with government agencies to ensure people live and do businesses within our lands in peace, safety, and prosperity.”
One resident who survived the attack posted a photo of one of the victims, which is shown above.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli