By Amos Aar
ARMED men suspected to be herdsmen on Thursday allegedly killed two personnel of Operation Whirl Stroke during a simultaneous attack on Ogwumogbo, Ejima, Ogbeyi G’Okpa G’Echo and Okokolo communities in Agatu LGA, Benue South Senatorial District of Benue State.
A source in Obagaji, the headquarters of Agatu LGA, confided in National Record that Fulani herdsmen approached leaders of the communities early Thursday morning and told them that they came to feed their cattle in the area but were told to hold on until harvested crops were moved from the farms.
According to the source, the Fulanis would didn’t want to hear that, insisting that they were already there and could not retreat, a stand which resulted a quarrel and subsequent clash.
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Personnel of the Operation Whirl Stroke who were quickly mobilised to the communities to bring the violence under control were attacked by the herders who were said to be well-armed with automatic weapons.
Two of the soldiers were said to have been killed by the Fulani herders, while unconfirmed number of members of the attacked communities have reportedly been killed.
When asked via WhatsApp to confirm the violence and the number of those killed in the attack, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Sewuese Anene, said she cannot speak for the military for lack of authorization, but she did not offer any information on civilian casualty.
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While the caretaker chairman of Agatu LGA, Mr Yakubu Ochepo, did not pick a call put across to him for enquiry on the incident, a former deputy chairman of Agatu LGA, Hon. John Ikwulono, told our correspondent the suspected herdsmen killed two soldiers and injured several others who were receiving treatment in hospitals as at press time.
“In summary, two soldiers lost their lives yesterday during the gun exchange with herdsmen. One sustained gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment,” Ikwulono told National Record.
