By Halima Abubakar, Abuja
At least four persons have been killed and several others, including children, injured in separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Ohimini and Ukum Local Government Areas of Benue State, raising fresh concerns over insecurity in the state.
The attackers were also reported to have rustled several cattle, while many residents remain missing as local vigilantes and community members continue search operations in the affected communities.
Residents said the violence began on Friday night in Elulu community, Ohimini LGA, where the gunmen allegedly killed a young man before making away with his motorcycle.
The assailants reportedly moved to nearby Agadagba community, where they attempted to rustle a large herd of cattle but were resisted by local youths. During the confrontation, one of the youths was shot and injured.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers returned to Agadagba on Saturday evening and opened fire indiscriminately on villagers.
“They killed two persons and injured many at Agadagba village. This was after they killed a young man and snatched his motorcycle a day earlier at Elulu. They also attacked Ochobo in the same Ohimini LGA where about four persons were shot.
“There was also an attack in Ogoli-Ugboju the same day where two persons were shot, including a local ranch owner who survived, but many of his cows were rustled.
“As we speak, this axis has become a dreaded area. People are fleeing their communities for fear of being killed. The armed herders attack at will and retreat into the forests. It is so sad that our people cannot have peace in their land anymore,” the resident said.
In a separate incident, suspected armed herders reportedly invaded Tse-Gbemshin in Mbazum, Mbaterem Council Ward of Ukum Local Government Area, at about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.
A local source said a woman was killed during the attack, while her children sustained severe machete injuries and are receiving treatment in hospital.
“A mother was brutally killed while her children suffered deep machete cuts during the attack. The community is calling on the government and security agencies to investigate the incident, arrest those responsible and strengthen security to prevent further attacks on innocent residents,” the source said.
Confirming the attacks in Ohimini, Chairman of the Local Government Area, Gabriel Adole, said three people had been killed in the council area following the coordinated attacks.
“It is not only in Agadagba community. They attacked Elulu two days ago, killed somebody, attacked another person and collected his Bajaj motorcycle. They also went to Agadagba that same day to rustle cows, but the youths resisted them. They shot one of the residents in the leg but failed to take the cattle.
Yesterday (Saturday), they returned and killed two more persons,” Adole said.
The council chairman, however, said security had been reinforced in the affected communities and expressed confidence that normalcy would soon return.
“Normalcy is gradually returning because security personnel have been deployed. Governor Hyacinth Alia has mobilised all hands, while community vigilantes have also moved into the area because they are the ones who can easily access the difficult terrain where these attackers hide.
“The marauders cannot drive us away from our ancestral land. Governor Alia has provided adequate support for security in Ohimini,” he added.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area, Jonathan Modi, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone were not answered.
Similarly, the Benue State Police Command had yet to officially comment on the incidents, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to telephone calls and text messages seeking confirmation as of the time of filing this report.
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