Army denies attack on Agatu villages

Nigerian Army has denied the alleged attack on six communities in the Agatu Local Government of Benue state. The incident reportedly left six persons dead, including a pregnant woman.

The Brigade Commander of 707 Special Force, Clement Apere, said soldiers were careful about the operation that was carried out on the villages.

“The operation we conducted in the area was carried out in a professional way,” he said. He added that only one person was arrested.

The incident is said to have happened after some youths allegedly killed a soldier in the area few days ago.

However, Agatu villagers insisted that the soldiers had attacked Olegadakolo, Ikpele, Otugologwu, Iwali, Okpanchenyi and Egba communities where a pregnant woman was hit by a stray bullet.

A villager who spoke on anonymity said “this is genocide on our people, as I’m talking to you now, six villages have been sacked, children and women have moved out of the affected villages, while many people have been arrested by the invading soldiers”.