From Scholastica Onyeka Makurdi
Gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen militia, have killed seven persons, including a man and his wife, in separate attacks on three communities in Guma Local Government Area, (LGA), of Benue state.
Our correspondent gathered that while four persons were killed in Hirnyam village, one was killed in Governor Samuel Ortom’s hometown, Ortom village while two others were killed in Semaka village, all of Guma LGA.
The incident, according to locals, happened last Friday, 5th May, 2023.
A source from the area, Mr Jonah Iorundu, told our correspondent that the man who was killed was a Catechist at St. Peter Catholic Church, Hirnyam.
“In their usual pattern, the herdsmen will shoot people and also use cutlass to cut them. They shot the Catechist, his wife and one other woman and after shooting them, they use cutlass on them,” he said.
He said their corpses were recovered from the bush and have been buried but their relatives.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Benue state Command, SP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to get information on the incident.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Guma LGA, Mr Mike Uba, has confirmed the killings describing it as sad.
Uba who spoke through the Security Secretary, Guma LG Council, Mr Christopher Waku, said seven persons have been killed in separate attacks on three communities in Guma LGA in the last one week.
“Four persons died in the attack in Hirnyam; a Catechist, Dominic Dajo, his wife and two others.
“In fact, he was in his house ironing his clothe so he can prepare to attend Mass. When he heard gunshots, he came out and was even telling someone that they, gunmen, had killed two people already not knowing it was also going to be his own death.
“While they were in the house, the wife rushed out and was killed and while he was also trying to run away, they also killed him.
” Again one woman from Ortom village, (the Governor village) was killed and on Thursday, two persons were killed in Semaka village making it seven.”
He said he could not reach the police on time as the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, has been transfered and he was yet to get the phone number of the new one posted to his area.