Again, Suspected Herdsmen Kill 3 in Renewed Benue Attack as Suswam Donates to IDPs

By George Okoh in Makurdi 

Suspected Herdsmen again yesterday night  and inspite of the ongoing army operations, attacked Kukwa community in Anyiin,  Logo Local Government Area of Benue State leaving three persons dead while three others sustained injuries.

This is as the former Governor of the State Dr. Gabriel Suswam and his wife, Yemisi have condemned the wanton destruction of lives and properties in Benue Communities even as they sympathised with the victims of the attack’s and urged them to bear their plight with fortitude in the belief that it will soon come to pass. He later distributed relief materials to them.

According to an eyewitness, the headsmen came at the early hours of the morning shooting sporadically at anyone in sight.

The Chairman of Logo LGA, Richard Nyajo confirmed the report to newsmen even as he said several people were still missing.

Nyajo stated that the herdsmen had laid ambush on the persons, explaining that they hid in a forest opposite the Redeemed Church and opened fire on the unsuspected victims.

He disclosed further that the herdsmen had shot down two occupants of a motor bike who died instantly and also shot at another group of four passersby, killing one and injured three others.

Among the four passersby that were shot were two Hausa traders, adding that it was one of the survivors that broke the news that their attackers were herdsmen.

According to him, one of the victims who lost his life had since been buried according to Muslim rites while the other two bodies had been deposited at the morgue.

“The herdsmen had between 7pm-8pm on Thursday, laid ambush in Kukwa near Redeemed Christian church of God located along Anyiin-Ayilamo road, where they shot six passersby,  killing three persons, while three others who  sustained severe injuries have been taken to  NKST hospital Ugba for treatment”, Nyajo stated. 

Anyiin which is the home town of the former, Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam, has one of the biggest Internally Displaced Persons IDPs camp, and serves as a base for Special Forces sent to the area to maintain peace. 

A resident of the area, Mr. Joseph Anawa who also spoke with reporter, said the herdsmen came through Tunga in Awe local government area of Nasarawa State to launch the attack. 

He said the attack caused many people living around the area to flee their homes to the Two IPDs camps located in Anyiin main town.

Anawa disclosed that the attackers were at about 9 pm repelled by the security before bodies and injured victims were recovered.

“The herdsmen also made another attempt Thursdays on Azege, another community in the area but were repelled by the security forces stationed in the area”, Anawah stressed.

Barely five days ago, herdsmen attacked and killed an Igbo trader in Anyiin, Mr. Daniel Abuchi along Anyiin – Gbeji road. Tsukwa is also one of the seven villages attacked in Logo local government on January 

The Benue State Police command confirmed the story 

According to the Police  Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Yamu, their officers on special assignment in the area were attracted to the incident by the sound of gunshots of the armed militias.

“Yes, we received the report that some armed militias invaded  Kukwa community in Anyiin, Logo LGA and attacked four persons on two motorcycles and killed three persons, injured one person and went away with the bikes. But before our special offices got to the scene of the incident, the attackers had escaped. 

“However, our men went after them and succeeded in recovering one of the bikes and also recovered some shell of ammunition and rescued the injured victim who had been taking to hospital for treatment.

“In fact, as am speaking with you now, my boss “CP” just spoke with the surviving victim who confirmed that he is responding to treatment”, Yamu stated.

He said that the command had drafted more officers to the affected area to ensure that normalcy returned to the community and urged the people not to panic as the police is doing everything possible to protect their lives and properties.

 

 

Suswam and his wife met with community leaders and displaced persons at the camp opposite Ashi Polytechnic, Anyiin where they commiserated with the victims and donated relief materials to them.

 

Suswam informed the people of the  launching of the military operation code named “Ayem a Kpatuma” ordered by the federal government of Nigeria to help stop the herdsmen attacks, and called on the people to be law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies so as to ensure the success of the operation in the area.

 

He equally enjoined everyone above the age of 18 years to come out and register in the ongoing voter registration exercise to vote for persons of their choice at the next round of elections who will provide the desired leadership for the peace and progress of the state.

 

 

Yemisi on behalf of the family donated 100 bags of rice, 500 pieces of wrappers, 10 bags of maize, 30 cartons of Indomie Instant Noodles, 20 bags of cooking salt, 20 cartons of washing soap, 20 carton of Vaseline Body Cream, and 400;bales of Sanitary Pads for women convenience.