Gunmen killed a traditional ruler and four others in an attack on a community in Benue state, local officials and residents said Friday.
The victims included Momo Awodi, the monarch of Olegabulu community in Agatu Local Government Area, his wife, Abigail, and their son, Boniface Ochowechi. Two other residents, Ochowechi Ochegwu and Deborah Ochowechi, were also killed.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the attackers arrived on motorcycles Thursday night and initially blended in with locals before launching the assault.
“They greeted people in our dialect, so no one suspected anything,” the resident said.
The attackers then stormed the monarch’s residence and opened fire, killing members of the household. They later moved to another home, where two more people were killed and one person was injured, the resident said.
The chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the attack, saying five people were killed and one injured. He added that security operatives had visited the scene.
Police spokesperson Udeme Edet said she had yet to receive an official report on the incident.
