Benue crisis: 12 people reported dead

12 people were reportedly killed on Sunday in Okokolo village by some youths allegedly from Abugbe village — both in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State .
No one could explain the reason for the early morning attacks on Okokolo village but it was gathered that a peace meeting was held on Saturday between Abugbe and Agbaduma communities where a peace agreement was signed .
The two communities , Abugbe and Agbaduma , were said to have been at loggerheads for a while .
It was gathered that the invading Abugbe youths stormed Okokolo community while the locals were in the church .
Many houses were also said to have been burnt down while many people were reportedly still missing as of the time of filing this report .
An eyewitness , who is an indigene of Okokolo village , John Ikwulono , told one of our correspondents that there was no prior issue between Okokolo and Abugbe people to warrant the attack.
“Just on Saturday , Agbaduma and Abugbe communities signed a peace agreement and promised to remain peaceful ,” he said .
Ikwulono said about 12 corpses had been found , adding that more people were still missing .
He listed those who were confirmed dead from Okokolo to include Baba Odoje , Shaidu Magaji ( a retired military man ) , Oloche Obiabo ( Kaddo ) , Adehi Imaikwu and Maji Baba .
Others , according to him , are Ngbede Ibrahim , Bello -Gene -Galih , Mr Ekoja, Adams Dogara as well as one late Francis Idu ’s wife and her two children.
Ikwulono said so many persons, including Mrs Mary Adakonye , a health worker who sustained bullet injuries , were receiving treatment at different hospitals in Agatu .
The former supervisory councillor said the situation, if not properly handled , was capable of destroying the entire Agatu .
The Caretaker Chairman , Agatu Local Government Area of the state , Usman Alilu , said soldiers in the area had been directed to arrest the perpetrators of the evil act .
“We are on top of the situation now ,” Alilu said .
Also , the Benue State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party , Sir John Ngbede , also an indigene of Agatu , said he had already informed the caretaker chairman to make sure soldiers arrest everyone involved in the attack .
Efforts to reach the State Police Command were not successful as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene , did not pick her calls and did not return the calls as of the time of filing this report .
Meanwhile , protest erupted on Sunday at Kankara town in Katsina State following bandits’ attack on Dankado village where 15 people were reportedly killed .
Dankado is one of villages surrounding Kankara , the headquarters of Kankara Local Government Area.
The town was still inaccessible because of the protest as of the time of filing this report ( 3 .15 pm ) on Sunday.
Sources said the bandits had on Saturday attacked the village , shooting at every object on sight .
One of the sources said , “The bandits used to invade our village , rustle our cattle , steal our money and take away our women . But yesterday ( Saturday) , they came at about 6 pm and were shooting anyhow . Majority of those killed were women . ”
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Residents of the village brought the corpses to the palace of Sarkin Pawwa ( District Head of Kankara) on Sunday .
The residents also reportedly brought those who sustained injuries to the General Hospital , Kankara for medical attention .
Many motorists , especially those travelling to Kaduna and Abuja through Kankara, abandoned the route due to the incident .
The spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command , SP Gambo Isah, had yet to react to the incident as of the time of filing this report .