Follow Us on Google
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Three persons have been killed and two others injured in fresh attacks by gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen in Ohimini Local Government, Benue State .
The attacks, which occurred in two separate incidents between Friday and Saturday, have heightened fears among residents of the affected communities.
Chairman of Ohimini LG, Adole Gabriel, confirmed the attacks in a telephone interview with journalists on Sunday.
He said the attackers first invaded Elulu village on Friday, where they killed one person, attacked another resident and made away with his Bajaj motorcycle before proceeding to Agadagba community in an attempt to rustle cattle.
According to the council chairman, residents of Agadagba resisted the attack, forcing the assailants to flee after they shot the owner of the cattle in the leg.
“It is not only in Agadagba community that the armed herders killed people. They first attacked Elulu village a day before yesterday, killed somebody, attacked another person and collected his Bajaj motorcycle.
“They also went to Agadagba village that very day to rustle cows, but the people actually repelled them. So, they shot one of them in the leg. They couldn’t rustle the cows from there again.
Other News
“Yesterday, being Saturday, they went out again and killed two persons in Agadagba.
“As I am talking to you, I am preparing to go to the communities to pay them condolences. So far, three lives have been lost in the attacks. They injured two persons — the one whose motorcycle they collected and the cattle owner they shot while attempting to rustle his cows. Both of them are still in the hospital receiving treatment,” Adole said.
He disclosed that local security operatives, working alongside the police, had been deployed to the affected communities to forestall further attacks.
Adole also said Governor Hyacinth Alia had reinforced security in the area and expressed confidence that those responsible for the attacks would be apprehended.
“The governor has mobilised me, and I have also mobilised the community vigilantes because they are the ones who can easily access those areas. I can assure you that with the adequate security provided by the governor in Ohimini, we will get those perpetrators.
“The vigilantes are on the ground, and Governor Alia has directed me to mobilise them, which I have done. People are on the ground now because these marauders cannot drive us out of our land,” he said.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
