BENUE: 5 feared dead in fresh attack by suspected herdsmen

No less than five persons have been feared dead following an outbreak of fresh attack by assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen at two different locations in the troubled Benue State.

Reports say four person were hacked to death at Guma and Agatu local government areas of the state while a herdsman was also killed at Lower Benue, a suburb of Makurdi.

According to an eyewitness who refused to divulge his name, two person where killed with one of them beheaded in the first incident which occurred at Olegobiudu in Agatu.

The witness said seven boys aged between 10 and 15 years went to have a swim at the community stream when they were attacked by the herdsmen who shot and killed two of them.

“The children, whose ages were between 10 and 15 years, had as usual gone to the stream in the community when they were attacked by herdsmen.

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“Some of the children rushed home to tell the people of the invasion by the herdsmen and by the time we got to the stream, the herdsmen had fled but we met the lifeless bodies of the kids. The head of one of them was cut off.”

Two other victims who were returning to their home in the other incident which occurred at Guma were attacked and killed by rampaging herdsmen.

The killings were confirmed by Fatai Owoseni, the Commissioner of Police during a meeting he had with the leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

The CP said, “We had an incident just yesterday (Sunday); two persons were killed in Agatu but we have responded swiftly to douse tension, we are working closely with other security agencies to ensure the crisis does not escalate.

“Also, some bandits have killed two persons in the Guma area on Sunday which makes us to reinforce in the area.

“Also, we have this report at Lower Benue here where a herdsman was killed.”

 

 

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