The Benue State Police Command have confirmed the arrest of eight herders in connection with the fresh killings of some rural residents of Guma and Logo Local Government Areas in the state.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, ASP. Moses Joel Yamu, made the disclosure last night in a statement he signed and made available to Daily Trust in Makurdi.
"The Commissioner of Police, CP. Bashir Makama has called for calm as eight herdsmen including six in Guma and two in Logo had been arrested in connection with the attacks and proper additional deployments made to the troubled area and its environs for monitoring, in order to forestall further occurrence and to restore confidence in the minds of the people," the statement reads in part.
Yamu added that the situation has been brought under control while investigation continues.
The statement further explained that the command recorded attacks on Tomater village in Sengev Council ward, Akor village in Nzorov council ward and Bakin Kwata village in Umenger council ward of Guma LGA by suspected herdsmen.
It noted that a total of 17 people including seven members of Benue State Livestock Guards were killed, their vehicle burnt and an uncertain number of persons injured in separate attacks between the New Year’s Eve and Tuesday morning.
According to the statement, a rural settlement, Agba-Uko near Azege village and Tse-Aga village of Logo LGA experienced the same fate where one person was killed, one motorcycle burnt and four persons injured, stressing that all the injured from both LGAs are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the state.
Yamu said the command acted promptly by deploying five combined teams of mobile and conventional policemen to the scene in Guma led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, ACP. Emmanuel Adesina and engaged the armed herdsmen in a gun duel, forcing them to retreat.