Suspected herdsmen launched a deadly attack on Eguma village in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday, killing two soldiers and seven villagers, including the village head. The attack occurred around 3 p.m., according to former Benue State House of Assembly member, Audu Sule, who spoke with reporters about the tragic incident.
Sule explained that the military, stationed in the nearby village of Ogwule, responded to a distress call from Eguma, but the soldiers were met with gunfire from the assailants. Two military personnel lost their lives in the confrontation, along with the village head and six other residents, raising the death toll to nine.
This attack marks the fourth in a series of violent assaults on the Eguma and Ogwule communities over the past month. Sule expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in the region, highlighting the daily threats faced by his people.
A gun battle ensued between the military and the suspected herdsmen, who eventually fled the scene. However, the casualties had already been inflicted. When contacted, Benue State police spokesperson Sewuese Anene stated that the command had not yet received any official reports or shared intelligence on the attack.