A group of assailants numbering about 70 have in the wee hours of Sunday, March 15, 2015 gruesomely murdered 95 people after storming the Egba community of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
It was gathered that the men were armed to the teeth and most of their victims were women and children in the area.
One of the survivors of the attack simply identified as Oche alleged that the assailants stormed the village between 5 am and 6 am before launching attacks on people in their various houses.
Although he could not give a definite number of the injured victims, the source acclaimed to have seen about 80 corpses which were cleared from the scene by security operatives and volunteers.
“They came with arrows, locally-made guns and knives when most of us were still asleep and started killing us . It was a very bad day for us. I believe that those killed are between 95 and 100 as I counted up to 80 bodies being taken away by people in uniform,” said the source.
“Most of those slaughtered were women, children and the aged. Almost all the houses in the community were razed by the attackers.”
However, confirming the incident, the state police spokesperson, Hyacinth Dagala, the records available to him stated that 30 people had been confirmed dead from the attack.
He added that he had already directed the Area Commander to ensure that adequate security was provided in the area.
One of the legislators representing Apa/Agatu in the state House of Assembly, Audu Sule, said that over 60 bodies were evacuated from the village.
The lawmaker, who said the survivors were now taking refuge in Obagaji/Ogbalu, the headquarters of Agatu LGA, claimed that the herdsmen escaped to Nasarawa State after the attack.
A female lawyer and activist, Sonia Ajoko,urged the government both at the federal and state level to help the survivors with relief materials.
“The loss is monumental going by what we heard. Women and children and the elderly were killed. I therefore call on governments at all levels to declare a day of mourning and commiseration with the bereaved families,” she said.
