JUST-IN: Suspected Herders Kill 2 Farmers In Fresh Attack On Benue Community

Armed men suspected to be herders have invaded Tse Mku, Ayilamu Community of Tombu Council Ward in Logo local government area of Benue State, killing two farmers.

The attack came nine days after the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun upgraded the Ayilamo Police Station to a Divisional Police Station.

A community members however said four persons were killed in the attack.

A community resident who identified himself as Elder Nyitamen told our correspondent on phone that the attackers who came in their numbers in broad daylight, attacked farmers on their farmlands and destroyed crops and other properties worth millions of naira.

Nyitamen added that the invasion also forced surviving community members to desert their settlements.

However, Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet who confirmed the killings in a statement, said two persons lost their lives in the attack.

Her words, “Two persons sadly lost their lives. Meanwhile, police tactical teams have already swung into action and investigation is on going.”

A community leader, Joseph Anawah, in a telephone conversation, explained that two farmers Kaananfam Nyamikume of Tse Jigam Village and Mson from Guma were killed on their farms.

According to him, “A drug vendor and one Saaondo Azaye of Tse Azaye were also killed in the attack.”

Anawah said, “The uspected armed herders after killing people on their farms invaded homes and set most settlements ablaze.”

He maintained that residents of Ayilamo and it environs who went into the bush in search of missing persons recovered two bodies near Tse Uza settlement, while others were still missing.

“The attackers were said to have been camped at Tse Ibor, Tse Ukpukuru, and other deserted settlements within the Mbawien Clan, which has brought panic and tension among locals despite the recent police restructuring aimed at curbing persistence attacks on the State farming communities,” he said.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the Benue State Police Command had last week announced the creation of two new area commands and the upgrading of five police stations in the State.

Among the upgraded ones include Ayilamo, Yelwata, Jato-Aka, Okpokolo, and Agan that were upgraded to divisional police stations to enhance surveillance and quick response.