No fewer than three persons have been killed and eight others wounded by suspected herdsmen in Tse-Apera, Nzorov, Governor Samuel Ortom’s home town, in Guma local government area of Benue State.
Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Mr. Caleb Aba confirmed this in a telephone conversation with newsmen in Makurdi.
Mr. Aba said the herdsmen invaded the community at the early hours of Sunday, woke the people up and starting shooting sporadically.
According to him, while the people ran in fear for safety of their lives, some were macheted in the process.
Aba who stated that two persons were killed on the spot noted that the wounded persons were taken to the Teaching Hospital where one person later lost his life.
“The dead numbered three, five were taken to the Teaching Hospital, Makurdi and two at the General Hospital, Gbajimba, Guma local government area. They were Fulani herdsmen. We identified them by the language they spoke as they carried out the activity. They also had rods with them.
“No house was burnt. Security has been beefed up in the area and there had been no attack again since yesterday. One of them that was killed was beheaded”, Aba said.
The Benue State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene has confirmed the incident.
Anene, in a text message said, “the attack was recorded on Sunday. Two persons died and five injured. I’m not aware of beheading of anyone”.
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Speaking to Journalists in Makurdi, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Benue State, (MACBAN), Ardo Risku Mohammed said he was not aware of the killings yet.
“I will not stay here in Makurdi and say it happened or it did not because non of my members at the local government has given me any information yet.”
He condemned the killings saying “as a leader, I do not support the killing of any human being and no religion teaches its followers to kill people.”
He promised to make inquiries to enable him get to the root of the matter as he pledged to work with the state government and security agencies to ensure that whoever is found guilty, whether Fulani or not, will be brought to book.
The MACBAN State Chairman, however, urged security agencies to investigate properly to avoid punishing wrong persons or people.
