19 KILLED IN FRESH ARMED HERDSMEN ATTACKS IN BENUE COMMUNITIES

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At least 19 persons have been gruesomely murdered with 16 of the corpses dumped in the river in two days of renewed armed herdsmen attacks in Kwande Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state.

It was gathered from a source in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity that the attacks started Saturday evening when 16 persons from Mbandwe Ward were waylaid on their way home by the armed herdsmen who murdered them and dumped their remains in River Katsina-Ala along Kashimbila road.

According to him, the marauders struck again Monday afternoon at Boguwa in Kumakua Council Ward in the same LGA murdered three more persons and set several homes and food barns on fire.

He said, “the initial 16 farmers were returning to their community in Mbanduwa Ward when they were ambushed along Kashimbila road and killed. Their bodies were dropped in River Katsina-Ala by the marauders.

“The second attack happened today (Monday) afternoon at Boguwa in Kumakua Council Ward in the same LGA. Three lives were lost in the attack, and homes and food barns were also razed by the armed herdsmen.

“As we speak several persons are missing and the people are fleeing their homes to Jato Aka and other safe places to hide themselves.”

Confirming the development, the President General of Mzough U Tiv, MUT, worldwide, Comptroller of Prison, Iorbee Ihagh (retd) disclosed that all the six Council Wards in Turan had been deserted.

Ihagh who spoke on the phone from Jato Aka, on Monday evening, confirmed that 16 farmers were killed on Saturday and their bodies thrown into River Katsina-Ala.

He said, “I am right now in Jato Acka, I was told that 16 farmers were killed along Kashimbila road at the weekend and their bodies thrown into River Katsina-Ala.

“As I am talking to you now, armed herders have attacked Boaguwa in Kumakua Council Ward, and three dead bodies have been recovered. People have fled their communities and ran to Jato Aka, I doubt if this place (Jato Aka) is safe right now.”

Chief Ihagh who claimed that all the six Council Wards in Turan, Kwande LGA had been overran by the armed herders appealed to President Bola Tinubu to deploy more troops to the LGA to protect the population and the communities.

Contacted, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har directed our correspondent to the Director General Internal Security, Israel Gbawuam who could not be reached on the phone.

Also, an effort to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent, CSP, Catherine Anene was unsuccessful.