From Msurshima Andrew Makurdi
Two persons have been reportedly killed and three others badly Injured in fresh attacks by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Ikpelle and Egwuma communities of Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
Our correspondent gathered that the armed herders also burnt down many houses in the communities; stole several livestocks and motorbikes.
The new attacks is coming barely 10 days after two soldiers and six civilians were killed in a similar attack on same Egwuma community in Agatu LGA.
It was further gathered from a local in the area that the armed herders Invaded the two communities separately in their numbers Wednesday evening at about 4:30 p.m. from neighbouring Nasarawa State.
A local told newsmen that “The attack happened on Wednesday and Friday evening. They first attacked Ikpelle, killed two persons, and yesterday(Friday)evening, they moved to Egwuma and carried out their dastardly act.”
The chairman of Agatu LGCA, Mr. Mavis Ejeh confirmed the attacks on the communities to newsmen on phone in Makurdi, Saturday.
He disclosed that the attack in Egwuma community didn’t claimed any live but several houses were burnt down and many livestocks and motorbikes were stolen by the armed herdsmen.
“Yes, there was an attack Agatu LGA. In the case of Egwuma community, the herdsmen destroyed two houses, stole several livestocks and took away many motorbikes but fortunately no live was lost.
“However, the situation in the community is now calm and normalcy has been restored, because when this attacks happened, I immediately called for deployment of soldiers to the area. So soldiers have again, been deployed to Egwuma community and ask I speak with you, soldiers are stationed in there.
“We are actually working towards lasting solutions. You know I just resumed offiice about few days ago and am studying the situation. So we will get peace in that area very soon.
“But there is one thing we need to know about the area, which is the bad terrain, the roads leading to the Ikpelle and Egwuma communities are very bad, so the respond time is usually very low.
“You must be fair to the security agencies. Inasmuch as some of them have their lapses, we must be fair to them, that terrain is bad. Just in less than 10kms road, it will take you more than three to four hours to get to that community. That is our major problem.
“As I speak to you the governor has awarded a contract for a major road within Agatu from Obagaji- Okokolo – Agangbe area to a tune of over N30bn and we are calling on his attention to also come to our aid in that general area.
“The roads in the rural areas are very bad and once the roads are put in order, we are going to have security and peace because the responds would be quicker and even the assailants will be careful in attacking communities because they know that if they do, security agents will get at them immediately”, Ejeh stated.
He promised to carry out massive infrastructural developments in Agatu local government area especially rural roads and other social amenities and put an end to the incessant attacks on communities in Agatu as soon as he settled down in the office.
“I will do my best to develop the area because our Governor Fr. Alia had given us all the leverages to perform and I will not wait for him to certain things for my people before he can come and do his own”, he stated.
