The police command in Benue State said suspected gunmen killed the District Head of Olegabulu Community in the Agatu Local Government Area of the state, Alexander Awodi.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Edet Udeme, confirmed the incident during an interview with on Saturday in Makurdi.

Ms Udeme said that the attackers also killed the monarch’s wife, Abigail Awodi, along with two other persons during the assault.

She stated that the command had commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

According findings, a local source in the community stated that four armed men, riding on two motorcycles, stormed the residence of the traditional ruler and opened fire on him and members of his household.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the assailants initially interacted with residents in the local dialect, giving no indication of their intentions.

“The attackers were not suspected to be herders because they spoke our dialect and exchanged pleasantries with people around. No one suspected they were enemies. However, immediately they entered the traditional ruler’s residence, they opened fire, causing residents to flee for safety,” the source said.

The source added that the attackers operated for nearly 20 minutes, after which they proceeded to a nearby house where they killed two extra persons, injured one other and fled the scene.

The Agatu Local Government Area remains one of the volatile areas in Benue State.

(NAN)