From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Wednesday,killed four persons in Imana village in Ikobi Council Ward, Apa Local Government Area (LGA), of Benue state.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred in the evening.
A community leader from Ikobi, Mr Atule Amodu, told newsmen in Makurdi, that four persons were killed, while one other person was seriously injured.
He said:”At about 5: 30pm yesterday, Wednesday, armed herdsmen launched an attacked on Imana village in Ikobi Council Ward.They killed four persons and injured one person. When they came to attack us, soldiers intervened and drove them away.
“After the soldiers has sent them away, they went to the outskirt of Ikobi and attacked the people . The people are surrounded by hills,that is why they took them unawares and started killing them .
“The people were killed by Herdsmen.See how they operate, as they came yesterday, they will not come today. They will begin to patrol the area with their cows and be dropping their warriors who will be attacking the people”.
Amodu, who noted that the herdsmen also attacked them last year, said,”this year if you come to our place there is hunger. House wives are going about looking for food because herdsmen caused serious havoc on us”.
The chairman of Apa Development Association, (ADA), a socio cultural umbrella body of the Apa people,Mr. Eche Akpoko, confirmed the attack, saying: “As at this morning, Thursday February 15, 2024, the report I got was that they have recovered four bodies .”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, said she had not been briefed about the incident.