…Many Still Missing With Several Injured
Attah Ede Makurdi
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia have reportedly killed 20 people including a community volunteer guard.
The gun men also injured several others while some are still missing in separate attacks on six communities in Guma and Gwer West Local Government Areas of Benue State.
Locals from the area told newsmen that the herders, who were heavily armed, stormed Tse- Lgar, Tse Magu and Tse Dudu all in Guma LGA where they murdered 13 people.
At Gwerwest, the herders killed the council ward commander of Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, (BSCVG), and six other persons.
A local who identified himself simply as Denen said that eight people were killed at Tse-Lgar, three at Tse-Magu and another two killed at Tse- Dudu.
Denen said that the attackers invaded the communities in the early hours of Wednesday when the villagers were still sleeping.
He said, “People were still sleeping when they stormed the three communities almost at the same time and killed people.
“Eight people were killed at Tse- Lgar, three people killed at Tse-magu and two others killed at Tse-dudu in Daudu. So in all, 13 people were killed and some people injured.
When contacted, Chairman of the local government, Mike Uba who spoke through the council Security Adviser, Christopher Waku, confirmed the attacks and said that 13 people were killed.
“Yes, some suspected herders, had, in the early hours of today invaded three villages; Tse-Lgar, Tse-magu and Tse Dudu all in the local government and killed 13 people,” Waku said.
As at the time of filing, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Benue state police command, SP, Catherine Anene said she was yet to receive such information.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba, confirmed the incident.
“Yes it is true. Those who are wounded are currently at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, (BSUTH), receiving treatment.”
Hemba stated that the casualty figures would have been higher if the security personnel had not responded swiftly to put the situation under control.
He said calm has returned to the area as security personnel has been drafted to the area.
