Ojotu Ojema, the lawmaker representing the Apa/Agatu constituency in the House of Representatives, has commiserated with families of military personnel killed in fresh attacks in the Okokolo community in Benue.

Mr Ojema condemned the attack in a statement by Olikita Ekani, his media aide, in a statement on Sunday.

Suspected herdsmen attacked the Okokolo community in Agatu Local Government Area in the late hours of Thursday, January 18.

The attack resulted in the death of four people and one wounded military personnel, as reported by locals.

He expressed sadness and condemnation over the renewed onslaught on the innocent people of Agatu, describing it as another reminder of the calamities that befell the people in the past.

The lawmakers urged the federal government to nip the resurgent attacks in the bud to prevent further escalation to other communities in Agatu and the neighbouring Apa Local Government Area.

Mr Ojema assured his constituents that he was working relentlessly, in collaboration with traditional, religious, and political leaders and relevant security agencies, to bring lasting solutions to the lingering insecurity in the area.

He urged the people to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to security agencies instead of taking the law into their own hands.

The troops of Sector 6, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), successfully repelled the attack by bandits on the Okokolo community.

The OPWS Force Commander, Sunday Igbinomwanhia, told journalists in Makurdi on Saturday that the officers averted the sacking of the community by the suspected bandits at a huge cost.

Mr Igbinomwanhia said that the troops lost three officers during the operation: two soldiers and one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel. He said two other soldiers who sustained injuries were rushed to the Air Force Hospital for treatment. 

(NAN)