The police command in Benue on Monday said suspected herders attacked the Egwuma community in Agatu Local Government Area and killed five persons.

The state police public relations officer, SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the development to journalists in Makurdi on Monday.

Ms Anene said the command had deployed additional personnel to the area to maintain peace.

Godwin Edoh, a member representing the Agatu constituency in the state House of Assembly, also confirmed the attack but put the number of victims at 12.

The lawmaker lamented the incessant killings of his constituents and called on governments and security agencies to take proactive measures to curtail the attacks.

“Government has to be decisive about what to do about this area because it is so porous,” the lawmaker said.

According to him, villages such as Ogbumogbo, Ejima, and others down to Ikpele have been deserted for nearly a year.

“The herders come over to the deserted villages with their cattle for grazing in the morning and leave in the evening.

“They are able to do these because the villagers had left their communities for fear of attacks, and the security agents are not doing enough to address this development,’’ he said.

(NAN)