Bandits kill monarch, wife, son, two others in Benue

Armed men suspected to be local bandits have reportedly killed five people, including a traditional ruler, his wife, his son and two other residents, in Olegabulu Community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

A local in the area, who didn’t want his name in print, told BusinessDay that the attack occurred on Thursday night when the assailants, who arrived on two motorcycles, stormed the Monarch’s residence and opened fire on him and his family members.

Another source said four persons, who rode on two motorcycles, entered the residence of the traditional ruler and shot him at close range, adding that the assailants also shot two members of his family before fleeing the scene.

“The killers were not herdsmen because at the time they arrived the Community from their motorcycles, they exchanged pleasantries with some people they saw in the Community in our dialect”, the source said.

Immediately they entered the traditional ruler’s house, they opened fire on him and people started running for safety.

He maintained that the assailants operated within 15 minutes in the Monarch resident after which they moved to a nearby house, killed two other persons and injured another one before they fled.

When contacted, Melvin Ejeh, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, who confirmed the incident, explained that five people were killed while one person sustained injuries.

“Yes, it is true that five persons were killed and one person was injured during the attack”, he said.

Ejeh added that security personnel, including the Police, had visited the scene.

But, when contacted, Udeme Edet, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said she was yet to receive details of the incident.