Gunmen K!ll Traditional Ruler, Wife, Son In Fresh Benue Community Att∆ck

Gunmen Kill Traditional Ruler, Wife, Son In Fresh Benue Community Attack

The source added that the community had enjoyed a long period of relative peace before Thursday’s bloodbath, making the targeted assassination of the monarch even more jarring.

Tragedy struck the Olegabulu community in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State on Thursday night as unidentified gunmen launched a lethal assault, murdering a traditional ruler and several members of his immediate family.

The attackers, whose motives remain shrouded in mystery, reportedly stormed the community under the cover of darkness, leaving a trail of blood and displacement, according to Daily Post.

Local sources confirmed that the victims include Chief Momo Alexander Awodi, the traditional ruler of Olegabulu; his wife, Abigail Awodi; and their son, Boniface Ochowechi. Other residents identified among the dead include Mr. Ochowechi Ochegwu and Mrs. Deborah Ochowechi.

While Benue State has frequently been a flashpoint for herdsmen-related violence, early indicators from the ground suggest a more localized conflict. Sources noted that Olegabulu sits between two rival communities and has been simmering with “underlying tensions” for some time.

One resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed a chilling detail: the killers might be locals or individuals familiar with the terrain.

“From what we are seeing, this does not look like a herdsman’s attack. Olegabulu is located between two communities, and there have been underlying tensions,” the source said.

“Some people were seen passing through the village square and they greeted them in Agatu. That is why many are confused about what really happened.”

The source added that the community had enjoyed a long period of relative peace before Thursday’s bloodbath, making the targeted assassination of the monarch even more jarring.

Local Government Reaction

Olegabulu is situated near the hometown of the current Chairman of the Agatu Local Government Area, Hon. Melvin Ejeh.

Confirming the incident, Ejeh described the killings as “tragic and devastating,” pleading with the grieving residents to avoid retaliatory violence.

“I urge our people to remain calm and not take the law into their hands. Security agencies have been mobilized, and investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” the chairman told journalists.

When contacted by SaharaReporters for an official update on the casualty figures and the progress of the investigation, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had not yet been fully briefed.

“I have no such information yet. I will get back to you,” the PPRO said.