By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—No fewer than six persons have been reported killed by gunmen at Adeka village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The fresh attack is coming despite recent efforts by the state government to ensure the restoration of peace in the troubled council, which had overtime come under repeated attacks by suspected herdsmen.

Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that “the invaders, with the aid of an engine boat, crossed over from Loko, a border town in Nasarawa State, invaded five riverine villages in Agatu, and unleashed mayhem on our people.”

Reacting to the killings, the lawmaker representing the area in the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Audu Sule, expressed sadness over the renewed hostility in the area.

Audu said five people were killed in Adeka by the gunmen, who he claimed were sheltered by their sponsors in four villages of Nasarawa State, alleging also that the attackers had threatened to stage a comeback after the initial attack.

“The incident had been reported to the police in Otukpo as well as other security agencies in the state,” Audu said.

He urged relevant security agencies to quickly address the issue before it snowballed into a major crisis in the area.

When contacted, acting Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Matthew Okwu, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.