Again, suspected herdsmen slaughter 8 people in Benue

Eight people have been killed in two separate attacks in Guma local government areas of Benue State.

This is coming barely 48 hours after suspected Fulani militia killed over five persons in the Ahentse, Nzorov council ward in same local government and wounded many. 

The latest attack occurred at Iye village, in Uvir council ward, along Daudu-Gbajimba road and branch Udei, around Yelwata axis in the early hours of Thursday, March 10, when the people were asleep.

The assailants who invaded the villages are believed to have crossed over from Nasarawa state into Benue. 

Eyewitness account said the herders, who had earlier issued a threat to the Tse Torkula community, asking them to leave the village or face dire consequences, came on motorcycles and without any herd of cattle.

The gunmen were said to have first of all shot sporadically into the air before breaking into the houses of their victims who were already fast asleep.

Security Adviser to the governor, Col. Paul Hemba retd, who confirmed the attacks and said that eight people were murdered.

Security Adviser to the governor, Col. Paul Hemba retd., confirmed the attacks and said that eight people were murdered.

“Six people were killed in Iye village along Daudu/Gbamjinba road. It happened in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) at branch Udeyen, close to the water in Yelwata. Two other people were also killed,” he stated. 

Also confirming the attacks, the chairman of Guma local government, Caleb Aba, said that six people were killed.

“Four people were killed at Iye in Uvir council ward and two more killed around Yelwata axis. One cannot explain the reasons for this renewed killings because there was no provocation at all. The herders just came, attacked the people and ran back into Nasarawa. These latest attacks happened at the early hours of today, between 3 and 4 am,” the council boss said.

While stating that military authority had been informed about the attacks and had stationed troops there, the chairman appealed to the federal government and the security agencies to increase surveillance.

He also urged the people to be more security conscious.