A deadly ambush by suspected herders on Ijaha Ikobi community in Benue State’s Apa Local Government Area has left four people dead, including two soldiers.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon, threw the village into panic after gunshots rang out around 3:30 p.m. A resident, identified as Adakole, said the soldiers were responding to a distress call when they were caught in an ambush. Two civilians, Ocheje Sani and Aduba Ogboyi, were also killed in the incident.
Adakole alleged that the attackers fled with weapons belonging to the military personnel after the assault.
Confirming the attack, the Chairman of Apa Local Government Area, Adam Ogwola, said the area has since calmed down following the arrival of security reinforcements. He added that the civilian victims have been buried according to local customs, while the remains of the soldiers were taken away from the community.
Ogwola explained that the community traditionally buries victims within 24 hours, a practice observed after the recent incident.
Efforts to get official statements from military and police authorities were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
