16 people were confirmed killed by suspected herdsmen at Agagbe community in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday.
According to Francis Ayaga, the chairman of Gwer West local government area, 16 people were killed in the three communities that was attacked by the suspected herdsmen.
Although, Maj. Gen Adeyemi Yekini, the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), said only seven dead bodies were recovered from the attack which he described as a reprisal attack.
Flying Officer Mohammed Abubakar, Sub-sector commander of OPWS in Gwer West local government area, said on Saturday that reliable sources from Agagbe informed him that some men dressed in military uniform were sighted in Agagbe forest rustling cows and he quickly mobilised his men to the area, adding they found three dead bodies that were later taken to a hospital in the area.
In his words, “We embarked on a search as well as carried out the investigation and discovered that those behind the rustling of cows were members of the livestock guards.
“We later traced them to Ter Nagi’s Palace and discovered 22 cattle there but he claimed that the cattle belonged to him even before the coming of OPWS to the area.
“Thereafter, we made contact with the DPO who equally identified the rustlers as members of the Livestock Guards who disguised in military uniform to rustle cattle and butchered them for sale at the Naka market. As I speak with you, they are the selling the meat at the market. The DPO also, gave names of seven (7) persons who are members if the Livestock Guard involved…
“Just this afternoon, our men went on mop up patrol and discovered four (4) additional dead bodies at the scene of the incident,” he said.
