Suspected herdsmen on Monday evening launched fresh assaults in Agatu and Apa Local Government areas of Benue State, leaving several people dead.

It was gathered that in Agatu LGA, one Sunday Dutse, a native of Odejo and younger brother to a former chairman of the local government, was killed along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road.

Dutse was reportedly displaced from his community in an earlier herdsmen attack and had been taking refuge in Ogwule-Kaduna, also in Agatu LGA.

Earlier in the day, a separate attack occurred in EdikwG’Icho, a community in Apa LGA, where three youths were ambushed and killed.

Two of the victims were reportedly from EdikwG’Icho, while the third hailed from Ugbokpo.

These attacks came despite the recent visit by top military authorities, including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who promised increased security measures in troubled parts of the state.

A United States federal high court has sentenced a 38-year-old Nigerian, Kingsley Utulu, to five years and three months in prison for orchestrating a major identity theft and wire fraud scheme that defrauded the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and private citizens of over $2.5 million.

According to reports, the conviction was announced by Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher Raia, FBI Assistant Director in New York. Utulu was charged with aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to Clayton, Utulu and his co-conspirators hacked into U.S.-based tax preparation services, stole personal information, and used it to file fraudulent tax returns and extract funds.

The FBI stressed that geography offers no protection for cybercriminals, reaffirming its global reach in tackling fraud.

Utulu was arrested in the United Kingdom and later extradited to the United States.

Along with his sentence, he was ordered to pay $3.68 million in restitution and forfeit $290,250 in proceeds from the crime.

His sentencing follows the recent convictions of two other Nigerians—Abel Daramola and Olutayo Ogunlaja—linked to an international romance scam that stole over $560,000. Both face up to 20 years in federal prison.

This wave of convictions highlights growing scrutiny and action against transnational cybercrime rings involving Nigerian nationals and other foreign actors targeting U.S. citizens and institutions.

There was tension as Heavily armed men reportedly attacked worshippers during Isha (night prayers) at Dole Moriki village, Moriki District of Zurmi Local Government Area.

One person has been confirmed killed and two others injured during the attack that sent shock through the community.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 8:00 p.m. on Sunday when a group of armed bandits invaded the village and opened fire on Muslim worshippers observing Isha prayers in a local mosque.

“One person was confirmed dead at the scene, while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries as the bandits shot sporadically at worshippers during the prayer session,” Zagazola said.

Reports said security forces have been deployed to the area as normalcy slowly returns after the dreaded night attack.

The injured victims and the deceased were taken to General Hospital Moriki, where the wounded are currently receiving treatment.

The corpse was later released to relatives for burial, according to Islamic rites.