Sunday tragedy in Agatu: Gunmen ambush residents, kill four

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Gunmen suspected to be armed herders have killed four persons in Odugbeho, a rural community in Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

It was gathered that the victims were attacked and killed during an ambush along the Odugbeho road in the early hours of Sunday.
A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told journalists in Makurdi: “There was an attack in Agatu this morning, May 3, 2026, and more than four persons were killed.”
The Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the incident.
Ejeh said, “It was an ambush by suspected Fulani herdsmen along the Aila-Odugbeho road.”
He explained that due to strengthened security measures in the area, it has become difficult for attackers to invade and overrun communities, leading them to adopt ambush tactics, which are more difficult to counter.
He added that security operatives have commenced clearance operations to flush out the attackers from nearby forests.
According to him, “Security agencies, including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and local vigilantes, are already on ground carrying out clearance operations.”
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.