Suspected herders kill two NSCDC personnel, three others in Benue

From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi

At least five people, including two personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen and others injured in separate attacks on two Local Government Areas of Benue State on Thursday and Friday.

Our correspondent gathered that two NSCDC personnel and a driver with the Benue Livestock Guards were killed while they were on official duty at Adaka community of Makurdi on Friday.

It was further gathered that two people were killed on Thursday evening at Tse-Tume in Turan council ward of Logo local government area of the state.

According to a community leader from Logo LGA who did not want to be named for security reasons, the locals were killed while they were working on their farm.

The community leader who identified the deceased victims as Terkende Injarwua and Mfaiga Ukor, said their remains had been recovered and buried on Friday.

Speaking on the attack, Chairman of Makurdi local government, Anthony Dyegeh confirmed the killing of two NSCDC personnel and a driver to the Livestock Guards Commander.

“The Civil Defense personnel were the members of Agro Rangers who work hand in hand with the Livestock Guards to enforce the state’s anti open grazing law.

“So on Friday, they went to Adaka to arrest the herdsmen who were grazing their cattle and they went their with livestock guards. Unfortunately, the herders engaged them and killed several people.

“But for now, I will say that two personnel of the NSCDC as well as the driver of the commander of Livestock Guards were killed.

“The deceased have been taken to the mortuary while the injured ones were receiving treatment at Federal Medical Center, Apir and Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.

Contacted, the NSCDC’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Michael Ejelikwu, promised to give detail account of the incident but was yet to do so at the time of filing this report.

Also, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene said, “That was not reported to me.”