Gunmen have killed a traditional ruler, his wife, son and two others in a late-night attack on Olegabulu community in Benue State.
Gunmen have killed five people, including a traditional ruler, his wife and son, in an attack on Olegabulu community in Benue State, according to residents and local authorities.
Residents said the assailants, who arrived on two motorcycles on Thursday night, stormed the monarch’s residence in Agatu Local Government Area and opened fire, killing the ruler and members of his family before moving to a nearby compound where two other residents were also shot dead. Witnesses said the attackers initially blended in with the community, speaking the local dialect and raising no suspicion before launching the assault. “The attackers were not Fulani. When they arrived, they interacted freely with people in our dialect, so no one suspected that they were enemies. But immediately they entered the traditional ruler’s house, they opened fire and people started running for safety,” a witness said.
Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the incident, saying five people were killed while one person sustained injuries. “It is true the incident happened. Five people were killed and one person was injured during the attack,” he said. Residents said the attackers operated for about 20 minutes before fleeing, as concerns mount over renewed insecurity in the area.
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