Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A quiet farming community in Benue State has been plunged into mourning after armed men staged a deadly late‑night raid, killing a traditional ruler, his wife, their son and two other residents in an attack that has shattered years of relative calm. The assailants stormed Olegabulu community in Agatu Local Government Area at about 10 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026, shooting sporadically and leaving a trail of devastation in a settlement that had not witnessed such violence in many years. According to multiple local sources, the victims included Chief Momo Alexander Awodi, the traditional ruler of Olegabulu, his wife, Abigail Awodi, and their son, Boniface Ochowechi. Also killed were a resident couple, Mr. Ochowechi Ochegwu and Mrs. Deborah Ochowechi, while one other person was injured and is receiving medical treatment. The attack has laid bare the fragile security situation in the Agatu area, a region that has often been spotlighted for communal tensions.
The attackers, armed with rifles and other weapons, arrived under the cover of darkness and moved through the village square shortly before opening fire. A source in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity told Daily Post that the assault might not be linked to the herdsmen attacks that have frequently ravaged Benue State, but could instead be a communal clash rooted in long‑simmering tension. “From what we are seeing, this does not look like a herdsman’s attack. Olegabulu is located between two communities, and there have been underlying tensions,” the source said. The source further revealed that unfamiliar individuals were seen moving through the village square shortly before the attack and were heard exchanging greetings in the Agatu dialect. “Some people were seen passing through the village square and they greeted them in Agatu. That is why many are confused about what really happened,” the source added.
The community had enjoyed a long period of relative peace before the bloodbath, making the targeted killing of the monarch even more jarring. “There has never been this kind of attack in Olegabulu for many years. The community has been peaceful, which makes this incident even more shocking,” the source said. Olegabulu is situated near the hometown of the current Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Honourable Melvin Ejeh, who confirmed the incident and described the killings as “tragic and devastating.” He pleaded with the grieving residents to avoid retaliatory violence and to allow security agencies to handle the matter. “I urge our people to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands. Security agencies have been mobilised, and investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” Ejeh said.
The attack has thrown the community into deep mourning. Residents have been seen wailing and gathering in clusters to commiserate with the bereaved families. The traditional ruler’s palace, once a symbol of authority and unity, was shrouded in grief as sympathisers trooped in to offer condolences. The killing of a first‑class traditional leader, along with members of his immediate family, has also sparked outrage across the state, with many questioning the effectiveness of security deployments in Agatu. The Benue State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, told SaharaReporters that she had not yet been fully briefed on the matter. “I have no such information yet. I will get back to you,” the PPRO said.
The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Benue State, particularly the Agatu area, which has been a flashpoint for clashes between farmers and herders over land and water resources. However, early indicators from the ground suggest that Thursday’s assault may be localised, with sources pointing to the fact that the attackers spoke the local dialect. The Agatu Local Government Area has a history of inter‑communal rivalry, and the underlying tensions cited by residents may have played a key role in the deadly escalation. The fact that the traditional ruler, his wife and their son were killed in their own home suggests a level of organisation and knowledge of the terrain that has deepened the community’s sense of betrayal.
The Federal Government has yet to issue an official statement on the killings, but the Benue State Government has been urged by civil society groups to take immediate steps to secure the area and prevent further loss of life. The state has been negotiating with various armed groups in the region, but the persistence of such attacks highlights the difficulty of achieving lasting peace. The National Human Rights Commission has also expressed concern over the rising wave of killings in rural communities, calling for a comprehensive security overhaul.
As the sun set over Olegabulu on Friday, April 24, the cries of mourners filled the air. The traditional ruler’s compound, once vibrant with the activity of a community leader, now stood as a silent monument to a family torn apart by bullets. Residents, many of whom had fled into the bush during the attack, returned to find their homes untouched but their sense of safety shattered. The Agatu Local Government Chairman has assured that security agencies are combing the area and that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. But for a community that had enjoyed peace for many years, the promise of justice offers little comfort. The people of Olegabulu now face the difficult task of burying their dead while waiting to see whether the authorities can prevent the next attack.
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