Armed invaders have killed one soldier and two farmers in separate attacks on two local government areas of Benue State.
Our correspondent reports that the armed invaders were said to have attacked the soldiers in Ochumekwu village at the weekend in Apa LGA, killing one and wounding another who is currently being treated at a hospital in Makurdi, the state capital.
The two other victims were reportedly farmers who were killed on Sunday by the attackers in the Udedeku community of Maav-Ya, Mkoonmom district of Mbaikyor Council Ward, Turan, Jato-Aka in Kwande LGA.
It was gathered that both affected communities have been under siege of the underworld men in recent times.
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The council chairman of Kwande LGA, Reverend Father Mark Hule, confirmed the killings in his locality to our correspondent by a WhatsApp message.
Hule added that many people are still missing following the attack on the community, expressing worry that more than two people could have been killed.
Meanwhile, Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Sunday Igbinomwanhia, confirmed the killing of a soldier to journalists in Makurdi.
Igbinomwanhia said: “Suspected armed herdsmen attacked soldiers deployed in Ochumekwu, Apa LGA, killed one, and wounded one. The troops in response killed three and injured several of them. They recovered one AK47 and rounds of ammunition from them.”
The force commander added that in Kwande, the OPWS is currently carrying out a clearance operation to flush out suspected armed foreign herders who have invaded the local government.
