6 People, Not 36, Die in Benue Massacre – Police

The Benue State police command has refuted reports dated November 10, 2013 that no fewer than 36 people were killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Agatu Local Government Area of the state.
The police public relations officer, DSP Daniel Ezeala, confirmed to LEADERSHIP that there was an attack on a village in Agatu, but that only six bodies were recovered by the police.
According to the PPRO, heavily armed policemen have been detailed to the affected area to maintain peace and prevent further attacks, stating that critical investigation into the matter is ongoing.
“There was an attack in Agatu yesterday [Saturday] but a detachment of armed policemen has been deployed to the area to quell the crisis. There is relative peace in the area right now and the police are on patrol. The report that 36 persons were killed in the attack is not true because only six dead bodies were recovered by the police,” DSP Ezeala said.
The PPRO noted that the attack was maliciously amplified and stated that the commissioner of police, Benue State command, Mr. Adams Audu, has not relented in ensuring that life and property were protected.
Mr. John Ngbede, the Commissioner for works and transport and an indigene of Agatu, has described the attack as unfortunate and appealed for enhancement of security on the borders of Benue and Kogi states. He said the measure would prevent further attacks on the residents of the affected area.
It would be recalled that initially several sources claimed that at least 36 people were killed by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen who invaded seven Agatu villages in Benue State.
Source: Leadership