By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
No fewer than four persons have been reportedly killed and many others injured as suspected armed herdsmen launched attack on Abaushwa community in Nzorov Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state, the hometown of former Governor Samuel Ortom.
Residents said the assailants stormed the community at about midnight on Monday while residents of the community were asleep and started shooting sporadically, destroying homes and killing victims in their sleep.
A community source said the attackers invaded the village without provocation and operated till early hours of Tuesday.
“They came and attacked the community without any provocation, killing people in their sleep. They forced open the doors of their victims and murdered them inside their houses.
“Three persons were killed during the attack, while many others sustained vary degree of injuries. The injured were taken to the General Hospital in Gbajimba, but one of them later died, bringing the death toll to four.
“Several people are still missing, and search efforts are ongoing. We hope they will be found alive,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, a native of the area and former Executive Secretary of the Benue State Teaching Service Board (TSB), Dr. Frank Kyungun, who visited the community alongside former Governor Ortom and other prominent indigenes of the area described the attack as unprovoked and barbaric.
“It was an unprovoked attack by armed herdsmen. They came at about midnight and launched a heavy assault on the community. They killed four people and left several others injured. Those wounded have been taken to the General Hospital in Gbajimba.
“We accompanied the former governor to sympathise with our people and urged them to remain calm and allow the police to carry out their investigations.
“What happened is deeply unfortunate. Our people resolved long ago to stop eating beef, and it is not even sold in our markets because we wanted to avoid any conflict. Even when our farmlands are destroyed by grazing cattle, our people have continued to exercise restraint.
“We cannot understand why innocent people should be killed without any provocation. It is a sad and painful development,” Frank said.
The Chairman of Guma LGA, Morris Orwough, also confirmed the incident, saying that it was dastardly act.
Orwough in a statement by his Personal Assistant on Communication and Strategy, Ernest Tortiv, condemned the fresh attack, saying that it was unwarranted and must be totally condemned.
He further described the incident as heartbreaking and unacceptable and expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.
The council chairman announced that security personnel have been deployed to Abaushwa to restore peace, protect lives and property, and prevent further attacks.
When contacted the Benue State Police Command equally confirmed that four persons were killed in the attack.
The Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Peter Aondona, said, “I can confirm that there was an attack in Guma LGA in which four persons were killed by suspected bandits.”
He said the command has launched Investigation into the attack while efforts are being intensified to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice.
