Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly invaded a Benue State community in separate attacks, killing at least 13 people. 

It was gathered that 12 people were reportedly killed in Egwuma in Agatu on Sunday, and one displaced person returning from a farm in Gwer West LGA of the state.

A local source who spoke to journalists on Monday reported that one displaced person was injured, and five others are still missing.

At Egwumoa, in Agatu LGA, it was reported that suspected armed herders launched a deadly attack on the community.

Godwin Edoh, a lawmaker from the Agatu state constituency in the House of Assembly, also confirmed that 12 people were killed as reported.

He said, “We are tired of this daily killing at Ogbumogbo, Ejima and all those areas down to Ikpele, those villages have been deserted for close to one year. So, those places are like the Fulani colony.

“This one happened yesterday (Sunday) 12 people were killed.”

When told that the governor said relative peace had returned and that IDPs are going back to their ancestral homes, the lawmaker said, “It’s a lie, they are talking nonsense. There is no peace anywhere.”

“Even the IDPs they said have returned, if you go there you will see them there, so I don’t know why they use propaganda, it’s not correct.

"In Gwer West LGA, suspected armed herders were reported to have attacked some displaced persons who were returning from their farms on Sunday killing one, one injured and five others still missing, he said.

Jacob Terna, a former camp manager at Agagbe IDP camp said, “Armed Fulani herders attacked and killed Mr Ikyumbu Aondowase, 30, while Mr Achin Terzungwe, 45, was badly injured and five others missing.”

According to him,  the suspected armed herders ambushed the displaced people while returning from their farms.

Confirming the incident to PUNCH, the Police Command spokesperson Catherine Anene stated that five people were killed in the Agatu community. However, she clarified that she was not aware of any incident in Agagbe, Gwer West LGA.

“There was an attack in Agatu, about five persons were killed but in Gwer West am not aware of that,” she added.