Traditional ruler, wife, son killed in fresh Benue attack

A fresh attack in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State has left the traditional ruler of Olegabulu community, Chief Momo Awodi, his wife Abigail, and their son, Boniface Ochowechi, dead.

The attack occurred on Thursday night, sending shockwaves through the local community.

It was gathered that in addition to the monarch and his family members, two other individuals, Ochowechi Ochegwu and Deborah Ochowechi, were also killed during the assault. The attackers, believed to have arrived on motorcycles, initially blended in with residents before launching their deadly attack.

A local source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the assailants gained access to the royal residence and opened fire on the family. “The attackers were not Fulani, as they greeted people in our local dialect, which caught no one’s suspicion,” the source said. Panic ensued after the attackers began shooting, forcing residents to flee for safety.

The assailants, who operated for nearly 20 minutes, moved to another house after the attack on Chief Awodi’s home, where they killed two more people. One person sustained injuries before the attackers fled the area.

The Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the tragedy in a phone interview on Friday, stating that five individuals had been killed and one person injured in the attack. “It is true, the incident happened, five people were killed, and one person was injured during the attack,” Ejeh confirmed.

Security operatives have since visited the scene, although the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, noted that she had not yet received official details of the incident.