BENUE: Herdsmen sack entire community, slaughter 2 priests, others

Suspected killer herdsmen have once again stormed a community, in Benue State, slaughtering many, burning over a 100 houses and sacking the entire village.

At least 15 worshipers, including two priests of a Catholic Church in the area, had been reported killed in the attack that occurred early hours of today (Tuesday).

The attack happened in Ayar-Mbalom, a community in Gwer East Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

The slain priests, Revd. Frs. Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha and the other victims were reportedly butchered to death in the early hours of this morning by the suspected herdsmen who attacked them while they were at morning Mass in a local church in the community.

A large crowd of Catholic faithful gathered at the Bishop Murray Medical Centre, Makurdi this morning to witness the depositing of the remains of slain priests, who were later brought in amidst much wailing and sorrow from the crowd of mourners.

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The remains of the slain priests were an ugly sight to behold as their killers had butchered and mutilated their bodies hideously.

Reports of the attacks were collaborated by some of the locals who had escaped and fled to Makurdi, and were among the crowd at the hospital.

Stories of mass massacre of Benue indigenes by suspected herdsmen have continued to make headlines almost on daily basis since the massacre of 73 persons in the state on January 1, 2018.

Only about four days ago, 10 persons were reportedly killed by herdsmen in Guma Local Government Area.

Recall also that Nigerian soldiers had recently stormed Naka town in Gwer West Local Government Area of the state, sacked the villagers, burnt one to death and set several houses in the area on fire over claims that hooligans in the community killed one of their colleagues.

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