No fewer than five persons have been reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen during an attack on Egwuma community in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue.

SP Sewuese Anene, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria in Makurdi on Monday.

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

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

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

“Government has to be decisive about what to do about this area because it is so porous.

“The Ogbumogbo, Ejima and other villages down to Ikpele, have been deserted for close to one 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.