— Many others injured, Scores Missing in last night’s attack
Attah Ede Makurdi
Suspected Fulani herdsmen militias, on Friday night, invaded Ngban Community of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, killing not less than 35 armless people who were displaced from their homes as a result of incessant attacks.
The deceased were taking refuge at a primary in the area.
The Network gathered that the invaders stormed the community in the late hours of the night on Friday and murdered most of the victims in a classroom where they were taking refuge, having being displaced from their various homes for a long time.
It was further gathered that corpses of the deceased were conveyed to various mortuaries within the area and would be released to families for burial on demand while those who sustained various degrees of injuries are being treated.
The Executive Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Dr. Mike Ubah confirmed the last night attack, saying about 36 dead bodies have been recovered so far.
He maintained that those who sustained gun injuries have been taken to hospital for prompt medical, stressing that the prompt intervention of troops of operation whirl stroke saved the people from totally be wiped out by the Fulani herdsmen.
“These people will come and killed then withdrawn back to wherever they came from . They came last night, killed as much as they can, and went back to their hideout unhurt. I am calling on Federal Government to give an order to the security agencies to deal with these set of Fulanis.
“The original Fulani herdsmen we know don’t kill, we coexist peacefully until this period. We are no longer safe in our Communities, government must do something”, Ubah said.
Also, a Community leader and former house of assembly candidate for Guma state constituency in the just concluded general elections, Jimin Geoffrey, condemned the incident describing it as unwarranted gruesome murder of his people.
” I have visited the scene of the incident. I can tell you that most of the victims were murdered in a classroom where they are taking refuge, having being displaced from their various homes for a long time.
“Corpses of the deceased were conveyed to various mortuaries within the area and will be released to families for burial on demand.
“May the souls of the departed rest in peace with the Lord and may God grant the bereaved families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loses”, Jimin stated..
Jimin however called on President Buhari to come to the aid of his people by providing adequate security in the area to forestall further attacks.
On Friday, large numbers of people predominantly youths from Ugbokpo, headquarters of Apa local government area of Benue State, barricaded the Otukpo -Oweto- Abuja federal highway to protest the unwarranted killings of their people by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The protest was said to have been triggered by the incessant killings of over 50 people in less than two days by the suspected marauders within Benue South senatorial district particularly in Apa and Otukpo LGAs of the state.
It will be recalled again that, on Monday, three people were reportedly killed at Igbobi in Apa LGA while 49 people were murdered on Tuesday and Wednesday by herdsmen at neighbouring Umogidi communityy in Otukpo LGA.
