Benue: Gunmen Kill Monarch, Wife, Two Others in Fresh Attack

Makurdi: The Police Command in Benue State has confirmed the killing of a traditional ruler, Chief Alexander Awodi, the District Head of Olegabulu Community in Agatu Local Government Area of the state by unknown gunmen.

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Edet Udeme, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Saturday in Makurdi.

Udeme disclosed that the attackers also killed the monarch’s wife, Mrs Abigail Awodi, along with two other persons during the assault.

She stated that the Command had commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

According to NAN findings, a local source in the community revealed that four armed men, riding on two motorcycles, stormed the residence of the traditional ruler and opened fire on him and members of his household.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the assailants initially interacted with residents in the local dialect, giving no indication of their intentions.

“The attackers were not suspected to be Fulani herders because they spoke our dialect and exchanged pleasantries with people around. No one suspected they were enemies.

“However, immediately when they entered the traditional ruler’s residence, they opened fire, causing residents to flee for safety,” the source said.

The source added that the attackers operated for nearly 20 minutes, after which they proceeded to a nearby house where they killed two additional persons, injured one other and fled the scene.

NAN reports that Agatu Local Government Area remains one of the volatile areas in Benue State.