Once more, on Tuesday night, gunmen who appeared to be suspected herdsmen attacked three communities in Benue State’s Logo and Gwer West Local Government Areas and killed nine people.
Separate attacks results in nine deaths
According to reports, separate attacks on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of five individuals at Mahanga and Ayilamo in the Logo LGA and four more at Nagi camp in the Mbachohon council ward of the Gwer West LGA.
Ayilamo native Torkuma told our correspondent on Wednesday that the herdsmen first assaulted Mahanga, where they killed two people, before moving on to Ayilamo, where they slaughtered three people.
Remember how three people were slain on Saturday when suspected armed herders entered Imatom village in the same Logo LGA?
They killed 2 in Agilamo
“Herdsmen came on Tuesday night around 10:00,” Torkuma remarked. At the mobile barracks at Mahanga, close to Ayilamo, they attacked and killed two people.
“From there, they traveled to Ayilamo town, where the herders immediately shot and killed another three people upon arrival. “Many other people suffered injuries of varying severity; they were taken to the hospital and are now receiving care.
Ayev Jôgunô, Faiga Mwuese Apefan, Msendoo Tertese Vaachima, James Mhen Nyerga Iorliam, and Orgbee Mnguerorga are among the victims of Tuesday’s attack who were recognized as being of indigenous descent.
Herders enters Nagi camp
Mrs. Mngohol Igbalumun Utile, Mr. Vershima Usange Meeme, and Mrs. Terpase Nyerga, according to Torkuma, are the injured. In addition, it was claimed that suspected herders had entered Nagi camp in the Mbachohon council ward of Gwer West LGA and killed four people there.
According to jerrymusa.com the armed herdsmen attacked Mbachohon and killed four people, a local who wished to remain unnamed told our correspondent on Wednesday via phone.
4 bodies recovered in Mbachohon
Unprovoked, the armed herdsmen entered the settlement of Mbachohon and began firing randomly; by the time they had left, four bodies had been discovered.
When contacted, the state command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, stated that five people were killed in Logo but that they had not yet received information about the attack on Mbachohon in Gwer West.
In a telephone discussion on Wednesday, Anene remarked, “I can confirm that five people were killed in Logo yesterday, but we have not heard anything about Gwer West.
Benue Governor condemn the attack
The attacks on the state’s two local government districts were verified by Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the state governor, in the meantime.
The governor disapproved of the herders’ devious behavior, which resulted in the maiming and death of innocent people, according to a statement made by the governor’s media assistant, Kula Tersoo.
The unjustified attacks on the communities of Ayilamo and Mbachohon in the Logo and Gwer-West Local Government Areas by alleged armed herders have been thoroughly denounced, the governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, said.
Killing for pointless reasons
“Governor Alia takes issue with the herders’ criminal acts, which include their cold-blooded killing and maiming of unarmed inhabitants of Benue for reasons that are impossible to understand and pinpoint.
“We cannot watch our people killed daily on their farmlands and in their villages for a cause very unknown to us,” he said, referring to Benue’s agrarian population, whose income is largely focused on growing and preserving crops.
“The Governor, who bemoaned instances of suspected herdsmen attacks on Benue villages that resulted in losses of life and property, said he will not rest till such heinous crimes are stopped.
Governor Alia Sympathized with victims family
Governor Alia sympathized with the families of those who lost loved ones in the attacks and urged the state’s security services to look into the terrible circumstances as soon as possible, find those thought to be responsible for the attacks, and capture them to face justice.
Alia also urged the traditional leaders and young people of the state to exercise caution and alert security to any suspicious activity.