Armed herders kill five hunters in fresh Benue attack

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia have again attacked Okpomaju community in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, killing five hunters and injuring several others.

Herdsmen militia invaded the community a few days ago and killed two residents who were on a hunting expedition.

A source from the area, who spoke to newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday, said despite a resolution reached by leaders of both groups to end the hostilities between them, the herders went ahead and struck on Wednesday evening.

Recall that the Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, and the leaders of the armed herders had on Tuesday, after one herdsman and two hunters were killed, resolved, among other things, to ensure peaceful coexistence and expose criminals found among the two parties.

The local said the renewed hostility was accompanied by massive destruction of houses at Okpomaju, thereby relegating the resolution to the background.

The source said, “The attack was unprovoked as the hunters were at home at Okpomaju when the armed herders, numbering 12, stormed the village with sophisticated guns, shooting sporadically.

“In the process, they killed Peter, popularly known as JPG, and Moses, while others ran in different directions into the nearby bushes with gunshot wounds.

“So far, we have recovered three dead bodies from those who ran to the bush, making a total of five. The fifth was recovered near Odudaje stream.

“As I speak with you, we are at the graveside, burying one of the victims and are awaiting the other bodies from the mortuary. We are with over 200 Otukpo hunters.”

The local lamented that the latest development has triggered further displacement of residents, not just from Okpomaju but from the neighbouring villages of Odudaje, Amla, Emichi, and Otukpo-Icho, among others.

He said some of those who ran for safety said the sound of gunshots from the herders was too deafening and frightening for them to stay put in their homes.

The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Mr. Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the incident and said security agents, including soldiers and the police, are already in Okpomaju to protect the residents and forestall further breakdown of law and order.

At the time of this report, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Benue State Command, CSP Catherine Anene, could not be reached as she did not answer calls made to her phone.