Gunmen kill five in fresh attack on Benue community

Gunmen have killed at least five people in Tse-Ahentse village in Ndzorov council ward of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State.

Villagers told our correspondent in Makurdi that several others sustained gun wounds following the attack which took place on Tuesday.

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The villagers said they were sleeping at night when the attackers whom they suspected to be armed herders stormed the community and began to fire gunshots indiscriminately.

Chairman of Guma LGA, Caleb Aba, confirmed the sad development to our correspondent on the telephone, noting that the incident happened early hours of Tuesday between 4:00 am and 5:30 am.

Aba said, “These innocent people were sleeping in their homes between 4 am and 5:30 am when suspected armed herders attacked the community and started shooting. They killed five members of the community and injured two persons.

“There was no earlier provocation at all to warrant such attacks. The village is called Tse Ahentse. But, the situation is calm now. Security men are on the ground.

“Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) is even situated at Iordye village very close to the scene but I wonder what kept them for so long because when the shooting started, somebody ran to inform them but they couldn’t come to the venue until they ensured that the herders had done what they wanted and left before they went to the place.”

But, the OPWS Public Relations Officer, Flight Officer, Hussaini Audu, promised to react to the allegation after contacting the troops in the said locality.

Meanwhile, State Chairman of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Risku Mohammed, said his attention was drawn to the incident during a security meeting with the state government in Makurdi on Tuesday and that he has contacted his members while waiting to hear from them if they knew anything about the matter.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident but said that four people were killed.

“The killing in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area is confirmed. Four persons were killed and one person is currently receiving treatment. An investigation is ongoing,” Anene said.