Suspected Herders Kill 18 Farmers, Children In Benue

At least 18 farmers including children were killed while scores were injured by gunmen to suspected to be herders on Thursday night in four communities in Guma local government of Benue  State.

According to residents, the suspected herders stormed Ukohol village on a market day and started shooting sporadically.

Our correspondent also gathered that when the herders left Ukohol they moved to nearby communities and continued the attack unhindered.

Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation the chairman of Guma local government, Mike Ubah who confirmed the incident told our correspondent that 18 persons were killed on the spot while several people were still missing.

He said;  “My people at Ukohol were attacked by armed herders who invaded the community on a market day and killed 10 people adding that the worst of it all is that they even killed children below the age of two years. They didn’t stop at that point but went to three villages/settlements around and killed another eight making it a total of 18. 10 at the market, eight in the villages.”

He commended security operatives saying, if not for their prompt reaction, the causality would have been more.

“It was a market day, they went their and started shooting. What is happening now is that they are trying to distabilise people from their villages and settlements and occupy them so that their cattle will be grazing in the night. They (herders) appeared in black attires. No village is spared and the whole 10 council wards in Guma are affected,” the council boss stated.

When contacted, the police spokesperson, Catherine Anene said, “Incident confirmed but no details yet”.