Suspected armed herders, on Wednesday killed a woman, her son, and two others in two communities of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident, according to locals, happened at Egwuma and Ogbai communities in the local government.

Two others were reported to be missing at the time of the attack.

A local from Egwuma who identified himself as Inalegwu told our correspondent on the phone on Wednesday that the suspected armed herders stormed the two communities and attacked the innocent villagers.

Inalegwu said, “Some herdsmen attacked Egwuma and Ogbai communities today, they killed a woman and his son who were working on their farm and also killed two others at a neighbouring Ogbai community.

“As I am talking to you now, two people are still missing and we are searching for them.”

When contacted, the Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James, who confirmed the incident, described it as ‘senseless and barbaric’.

“This is an unprovoked attack on our people, it’s senseless and barbaric. How could people attack and kill a mother and her son who were working on their farm? The incident happened today (Wednesday) at Egwuma, where they killed an innocent mother and her son working on their farm, and the other two people were killed at a neighbouring Ogbai community,” he said.

While commending the security personnel deployed to the area, the chairman said that the attack was unleashed on the two communities at the time the security personnel were on surveillance of other villages.

“The security operatives in Agatu have been doing their best to beef up security, but the problem in my council is the bad roads. At the time the incident happened, the security men were on surveillance of other areas,” he said.

When contacted, the spokesperson for Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said she was on tour and had yet to receive the report.

“As you can hear voices underground, we are on tour and I am yet to get the report, but I will get back to you later,” the PPRO said.

In his reaction, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, said he had yet to receive the report and asked our correspondent to get confirmation from the affected council chairman.