In another devastating incident on Friday evening, Chief Drorugh Taki, the village head of Taki Village in Mbalagh Council Ward of Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State, was reportedly killed in an ambush attributed to armed herdsmen. The attack occurred near Akpanaja as Chief Taki was traveling back to Makurdi on a motorbike with his son. While the chief lost his life in the assault, his son has been missing since the incident, sparking concern for his safety.
A local source disclosed that the ambush took place around 3:00 pm, leaving the whereabouts of the chief’s son unknown. “They were attacked while riding together. The father was killed, but his son has not been seen since, and his location remains uncertain,” the source stated.
The tragic incident comes on the heels of another deadly attack earlier the same day in Agbo Vengav community, situated in Gwer West Local Government Area. At least seven people, including women and children, were brutally murdered when suspected herdsmen launched a violent assault on the community in the early hours of Friday. The attackers, who reportedly arrived at 1:00 am, opened fire on residents as they attempted to flee their homes amid the sound of gunshots.
An eyewitness recounted, “The attackers came suddenly, and the assault was completely unprovoked. People were fast asleep when the gunshots rang out. Those who tried to escape were caught, and seven lives were lost, including women and children. Several others were injured, and some were forcefully taken away by the assailants.”
More Read
The attack has left the community in shock, with many residents fleeing to nearby areas in search of safety. Gwer West LGA, along with other parts of Benue State, has been increasingly affected by violent attacks linked to armed herders, raising concerns about the growing insecurity in the region.
As communities face recurring violence, local authorities have yet to offer a public response. Efforts to contact Chief Superintendent Catherine Anene, the Police Public Relations Officer, for a comment on the situation were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
