Fulani cattle herdsmen attack in Benue State again killing 59 people over three days

FULANI herdsmen have attacked another community on Benue State raiding four villages and killing 13 persons in Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas (LGAs) in what was the third attack in as many days.

 

On Monday, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State met with stakeholders from Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas after herdsmen mounted attacks on Saturday and Sunday. However, just a few days later, the herdsmen struck again, bring the total killed in the gruesome murders to 59.

 

The Benue State Police Command spokesman Assistant Superintendant of Police (ASP) Moses Yamu, confirmed that four people were killed in the Vaase community of Ukum while three corpses were recovered in Anyiin and one in Uzer in Logo LGA of the state. He added that an addition five corpses were recovered from Tsukwa.

 

ASP Yamu said the attacks were carried out simultaneously at 2am by the suspected herdsmen. Chief Joseph Anawah, a former special adviser to ex-governor, Gabriel Suswam, who hails from Anyiin, said that the five persons were first shot dead at a Tsukwa settlement before the security operatives came to the scene.

 

He maintained that the attackers however continued shooting in some places, saying that he saw two corpses recovered at Anyiin, while several others injured were receiving treatment at NKST Hospital at Anyiin. Another eyewitness, however, said three corpses had so far been recovered at the scene of the attacks from Anyiin axis, while several others with machete cuts and gunshot wounds were receiving treatment at the NKST Hospital in Anyiin.

 

He added: "This is a well coordinated attack with the attackers coming from the Awe axis of Nasarawa State, through the River Benue, and successfully launched their attacks on Benue communities. The operations at Anyiin, Uzer, Jootar, Government Settlement and Vaase took place simultaneously.

 

“A day to Wednesday’s attack, the herdsmen shot and killed Mr Samuel Ormbagwen, in his farm at Anawah settlement area, near Anyiin. His corpse was discovered the next day with his farm implements."

 

Garus Gololo, the Benue State coordinator of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, who had earlier blamed the incessant crisis on continuing reprisals from the two warring factions, said the inability of the former governor Suswam to settle the herdsmen was responsible for presenting frequent crises. His association has long denied being responsible for the murders.