Attah Ede Makurdi
Suspected armed herdsmen have again attacked the community opposite the Abagana Internally Displaced Persons camp in Makurdi, killing eight people.
The armed herders also invaded Ikobi Community last night in Apa local government area of the state and killed four persons, leaving several others badly injured and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
It was gathered that the killers herders in Abangana Community,beheaded and took away the heads of the victims, including an entire family of six, while eight other persons were wounded with three of them in critical condition.
The photos from the two attacks are too gory for publication as the herdsmen dismembered the helpless victims.
The attack took place on Thursday night when the community had gone to bed for the night.
This is the second in two years in an attempt to attack the Abagana IDP camp where hundreds of internally displaced persons have been living since January 2018 as a result of armed herdsmen attacked in Guma, Makurdi and Logo local government areas of the state.
The Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Terver Akase who disclosed this to our correspondent through a text message, described the attacks as unprovoked.
According to him, the attack took place at about 2100hrs on Thursday and that women and children were among those killed. Those injured have been moved to the hospital for medical care.
A message from him read,”Suspected fulani bandits attacked Abagana opposite the IDP camp last night at about 2100hrs. So far, eight corpses, including women and children, have been recovered, and eight others seriously injured were evacuated to the hospital for treatment.
“Some of the bodies were beheaded and the heads. taken away. The bushes are still being combed for more victims.”
A man with his wife and 4 children were all wiped out in the attack. The casualty figure may likely rise as 3 other persons were fatally shot and may not survive the injuries in the chest.
Efforts to speak with the State command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene proved abortive as she could not be reach as the time of filing this report.