Mopol, 13 Others Killed In Benue Attacks

At least 14 people, including a mobile police officer, have been reportedly killed in separate attacks by gunmen across Apa and Otukpo local government areas of Benue State.

Locals who spoke to our correspondent via telephone on Monday disclosed that 10 persons were killed in Edikwu-Ankpali on Sunday night, while three others were killed on Friday in Ikobi, Apa Local Government Area.

The police officer, according to the locals was, however, killed during another attack on Saturday at Upu village in Entekpa ward of Otukpo LGA.

They described the killings as a daily occurrence in the affected communities, stressing that the villagers have fled their homes, following the fresh incidents.

Our correspondent gathered that youths have continued to comb nearby bushes on Monday afternoon in search of more bodies said to be missing during the attacks.

The Chairman of Apa LGA, Adam Ochega, said nine people were killed in Edikwu-Ankpali, while one person each was killed in Ikobi and Adija communities.

He added that several others sustained injuries during the attacks.

“Nine people were killed, many were injured at Edikwu – Ànkpali, while one was killed at Ikobi and another was killed at Adija,” the LG chairman told journalists in Makurdi through a WhatsApp message.

Earlier, the chairman, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ogili Ogili, decried the persistent attacks on Ikobi, Adija, and Edikwu-Ankpali, noting that the incidents have left residents in grief and trauma.

He called on the federal and state governments to urgently deploy more security personnel to the affected areas, adopt proactive security measures to address the crisis, and provide compensation and support to victims’ families.

Ochega stressed that government must go beyond condemning the attacks and take concrete steps to prevent further loss of lives, as residents continue to demand justice and protection.

Also, the Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the killing of the mobile police in Upu community on Saturday.

Ogiri, in a telephone conversation, told our correspondent that the deceased officer was one of the security operatives sent to the area in the wake of attacks.

“It’s sad we lost him during the attack on Upu which security operatives successfully waded off. However, the security of the area has been fortified with the deployment of more police and military,” the chairman said.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Benue command, DSP Udeme Edet, had yet to respond to calls or messages put through her telephone as at the time of filing this report.(Daily trust)