Benue State came under a fresh spell of severe insecurity on Thursday night as suspected killer herdsmen launched deadly attacks in some communities, killing many residents and rendering hundreds of others homeless.
Residents of Ukum Local Government Area, Benue North Senatorial Zone, claimed that no fewer than 100 bodies were recovered in the bush as suspected herdsmen attacked Gbagir and Ityuuluv settlements. Verification of their claims was not possible at the time of reporting.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, Sewuese Anene, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and made available to newsmen in Makurdi yesterday, said five people were killed in Ukum LGA. On the other hand, 12 people lost their lives in Logo, while numerous others sustained injuries and were undergoing treatment.
The herdsmen, according to eyewitness Paul Aguma, stormed Ukum Local Government Area in the night with large herds of cattle. Aguma said many of the victims were caught unaware as the invaders set houses ablaze and shot people dead under the cover of darkness.
In Ityuluuv, the herdsmen took over houses and allowed their cows to graze freely. Youths in the area spent the better part of yesterday (Friday) conveying victims of the attacks from the affected villages to St. Anthony Hospital, Zakibiam, and Ukum Local Government Headquarters.
Before Thursday’s attacks in Ukum Local Government Area, three persons were killed by suspected herdsmen at Mbasombo, Gwer East Local Government Area, while many houses were set ablaze. The herdsmen then proceeded to the Tarka and Buruku local government areas, regarded as the centre of the Tiv Nation.
According to Dennis Mernyi, a community member, several communities in Tombo Mbaya, Buruku Local Government Area, and neighbouring Mbachoughu and Mbanyagber in Tarka LGA were invaded, with harvested crops destroyed by cattle.
He disclosed that the affected villages include Ortese Mbaatsua, Garagboughul, Usen, Tomahar, Tse Damkor, and all of Tombo Mbaya in the Buruku Local Government Area, from which all residents fled their ancestral homes following the bloody attacks.
It was gathered that residents were seen fleeing for safety as the invading attackers descended on the areas as mentioned above, leaving behind destruction and widespread panic.
“Nursing mothers with babies fastened to their backs trekked long distances in search of safety. It was a week of horror as the herdsmen operated for hours without any challenge from security agents,” a resident said.
Those affected have taken shelter at some primary schools around the troubled areas, while the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps continues to swell.
The Benue State Police Command, in a statement yesterday, attributed the attacks to suspected armed herders, putting the death toll in Logo and Ukum local government areas at 17, while many others were injured.
Anene warned social media users who were reporting unconfirmed reports and inciting the general public to desist from such actions.
The police spokesperson said that such actions were capable of creating unnecessary tension in the state.
