Gunmen have killed two soldiers and 15 villagers when they attacked three communities in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attacks were simultaneously carried at about 6pm on Tuesday in Opaha, Odogbo and Edikwu communities in Apa LGA.
According to a villager, Kole, 17 bodies including two soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) were discovered from nearby bushes in the early hours of Wednesday after security operatives combed the area.
Kole revealed that one of the killed soldiers was the commander of the unit who confronted the armed invaders in a repel attacks
Chairman of Apa Development Association, Barrister Eche Akpoko, revealed that there was an attack on the community on Tuesday night.
The State Commissioner for Finance, David Olofu, who hails from Opaha, one of the affected villages, confirmed that the bodies of 15 villagers and two soldiers were recovered on Wednesday morning.
The Commissioner said he was on his way to the village to assess the situation at the time of this report.
Neither the spokesman of OPWS, Flight Lieutenant DO Oquah, nor the Sector Commander of OPWS in charge of Apa LGA, Major Ogundile, could not be reached for comments. Oquah’s phone was off while Ogundile was out of town.
The Benue State Police Command spokesperson Police, SP Catherine Anene, she was yet to be briefed on the incident.
