From: Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Less than one week after many people were killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in three communities of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, suspected Fulani herders have struck again allegedly killing eight more people in one night.
Communities affected this time are Mbavuur council ward of Logo Local Government Area where six people were killed and Mbaya council ward of neighbouring Buruku Local Government Area where two people were killed.
This renewed hostilities is coming at the time the state Governor, Samuel Ortom and the Commissioner of Police in charge of Benue State, CP Bashir Makama are attending a Security Summit in Abuja.
According to the Security Secretary of Logo Local Government Area Tor Alour, the assailants stormed the community on Wednesday night and started shooting sporadically killing people and by the time the dust settled many people were dead while the whole community have now been deserted.
Alour who disclosed that the six corpses had been evacuated and deposited at General Hospital, Ugbah already noted that more corpses might still be discovered later as many people were still missing at the time of this report.
In the Buruku attack, the invading Fulani herdsmen were said to have passed through several communities to Mbaya council ward where they allegedly hacked down two victims and left them in the pool of their blood.
Although, the reason for these latest attacks was not clear at the time of this report, a coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Garus Gololo who confirmed the report said he was crossing the River Buruku on his way to meet the Fulanis with a view to resolving the issues.
Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Buruku local government, Mbatseen Terngu, who lamented what he described as unwarranted killing said over 4,000 Fulani cattle were presently grazing freely in the area with the herdsmen destroying their farmlands.
When contacted, State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Moses Yamu who confirmed that one person was matched to death in Buruku another another person sustained injury in the attack however said he was yet to be briefed about a recent attack in Logo.
“On Tuesday at about 1:30 pm, one Aondoaver Kandev was matched on his left hand at Mbakura Mbatsaase village. Also on Wednesday at about 0020 hours, one Orsee Nuanwas matcheted to death by suspected herdsmen in Mbaayer Mbaya village.”
“His corpse has been deposited at the Buruku General Hospital while the injured victim is also responding to treatment at the same hospital. A herdsman, one Isiaka Muhammadu was arrested in connection with the crime and investigation is going on.”