Unknown Gunmen Kill Traditional Ruler, Wife, Son, Two Others In Benue Community
•By Admin
MAKURDI — UNKNOWN gunmen on Thursday, shot to death, a traditional ruler, his wife, son and two other persons in Olegabulu community of Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
According to reliable sources in the area, the four gunmen who rode on two motor bikes to the house of the traditional ruler, alighted from their bikes, greeted the people in the compound in their dialect, before proceeding to shoot, the traditional ruler.
He explained that the gunmen who has operated unhindered for about 20 minutes, then proceeded to shoot the wife and son, before moving into a nearby compound and shot to death, two other persons and injured another.
Although, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area (LGA), Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the incident, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State Command of the Nigeria Police, Edet Udeme, said, she was not aware of the incident.
However, Ejeh, said, that the police in the area were aware of the incident and have visited the scene of the shooting.
According to the source, “The assailants were not Fulanis, because at the time they alighted from their motorcycles, they exchanged pleasantries with people around in our dialect.
“So, nobody envisaged they were enemies but as soon as they entered the traditional ruler’s house and started shooting, everyone scampered for safety.
“The assailants operated for almost 20 minutes. After the traditional ruler’s residence, they moved to the next house and killed two other people.
“One other person sustained injuries and thereafter they ran away”, he stated.
Meanwhile, chairman of the LGA, Melvin Ejeh, who confirmed that five persons were killed and another injured, stated that the police in the area have already visited the scene of the incident.
He said, “It’s true the incident happened. Five people were killed and one person injured during the attack.”
•INDEPENDENTNG.