Herdsmen kill 17 persons in renewed attack on Agatu

Herdsmen at the early hours of Wednesday attacked and killed seventeen persons in Ebete, at Usha ward in Agatu local government area of Benue state.

Blueprint gathered that the unprovoked attack on Agatu people started at around 1am when the people were fast asleep.

It was further learnt that among the seventeen persons killed  by the attackers were three Jukum hunters who had gone to the area to hunt for animals.  

An eyewitness account revealed that another two of the hunters who sustained serious gunshot wounds have been rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. 

One of the residents Adanu Ochai who spoke to newsmen said his wife and two children were killed in the attack. 

According to him, he had visited his elder brother in Apa, when he got a call around 4 am that his community, including his house was attacked and his family killed. 

“I rushed home immediately, but was late to meet my wife and two children lying lifeless in the pool of their blood. We later recovered 14 additional corpses. But some people ran to the bush and may have been killed there.’’

Another resident Daddy Seni, a fisherman whose father was also killed alongside his siblings, said he left his father at their home in Ebete and went to Aloko for fishing when he received call from his father asking him to return home, that he was shot by Fulani herdsmen. 

“When I got the call from my father, I quickly rushed home but on reaching there, my father was lying hopelessly on the ground. He said while he was trying to rush his father to the hospital, he heard the attackers approaching and had to abandon them and hide in the nearby bush to avoid being killed. 

When contacted, the new Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Benue State Command, DSP Catherine Sewuese Anene, said they were yet to receive information about the attack.  
Confirming the incident, Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke OPWS, Major Gen. Adeyemi Yekini said, “I received a report this afternoon that some people were killed in Agatu by suspected armed bandits. I’m not sure of the number of casualty yet, but I don’t think it is up to 16.  We have sent a patrol team to the general area where the incident happened. 

“The location where it happened, although is in Benue can better be accessed through Loko in Nasarawa state. We are already 

Clerics in Bauchi state have been cautioned against interfering in religious matters in the state.

Muslims Youth and student leaders in the state led by Prince Mohammed Sani Hassan , Comrade Alhasseenor  Adam and Babangida Bindis who made the call in a statement jointly issued in Bauchi said they are not happy with the way religious matters are being dragged into politics in the state.

They said, “We are not happy as future leaders the way and manner religious leaders are dragging religion issue into politics in the state

“Religion should not be dragged into politics but rather commitments, dedication and service to the people of the state. In the history of politics since 1999 to date, Bauchi state has  not produced a leader like Yak0ubu Dogara, Speaker, National Assembly member representing Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa federal constituency. He built more than 1000 mosques in all the nooks and crannies of Bauchi state,  he sponsored  many muslims to Hajj, he assisted both Christians and Muslims in Bauchi state, he catered for both religion in bauchi state, he should not be condemned.

“Dogara believes in the ideology that all human is important, which is why his slogan is serving the humanity.

 Without any fear of contradiction, we have few good leaders in Bauchi state and one of them is Dogara and that is why we believe that his victory is guaranteed on Saturday

“We will all come out to support, guide and protect our votes. We have made door to door , house to house and community to community campaign for him. We have confidence on Dogara. We urge Bauchi youths to avoid violence, cast their vote peacefully and wait for the results. 

“Nigeria is ours, we have no other place to live in except Nigeria and   we must stay and live peacefully with one another irrespective of religion or ethnic differences. Security agencies should not give room for violence. Anyone that wants to bring distraction should be arrested.  We support the arrest of those that preaches violence in.0)

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