10 Killed As Suspected Herdsmen Attack Benue Communities

Ten persons have been reportedly killed while several others sustained injuries as herdsmen attacked communities in Apa, Kwande and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State.

It was gathered that herders had invaded several Benue communities with thousands of cattle since the coming of the dry season, and relentlessly attacked Ubele, Ochumekwu, Adija, Kano and Ijaha in Apa LGA in the last three days.

Confirming the attacks, National Chairman of Apa Development Association, a socio-cultural group of people, Mr. Eche Akpoko lamented the unending attacks and killings in Apa by the marauders, saying the attacks were carried out in three days.

"I can confirm to you that there were serial of attacks on the following communities: Ijaha-Ibele, where five people were killed; Ochumekwu recorded three casualties; in Adija, one person was killed, same as Kanocommunity, where one person was also killed. These were all in Apa LGA,” he said.

According to the Vanguard, the attack was reported to have spread to Yelewata in Guma LGA, where a middle aged farmer, Mr. Oryiman Ifa, was hacked Sunday morning in his cassava farm by herders, who invaded his farm with their cattle.

A family member said, “he was left in his pool of blood but was lucky to have been rescued by neighbours who saw him in the bush and rushed him to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Makurdi, where he is receiving treatment.”

The herders were also reported to have invaded Moon on River Mkomun close to the Cameroon boundary with Benue State on Sunday evening, where the locals were said to have been surrounded and trapped by the marauders who threatened to kill them

"Some of the trapped villagers were able to escape upon payment of N5,000 each to those who helped them to escape from the entrapment,” he said.

It was also gathered that a man identified as Johnson Akanu, pictured was killed on his way to Ikobi on Monday, February 19.