A total of seven farmers have been killed while scores others sustained varying degrees of injuries when armed bandits stormed Otobi-Akpa Community in Otukpo local government area of Benue State on Tuesday.
LEADERSHIP gathered that palpable fear has gripped residents of the community who have started to flee due to the fresh attack.
A member of the community who simply identified himself as Alechenu told our correspondent that the herders invaded the community at about 6:30pm on Tuesday when most people had returned from their farms.
He added that assailants in getting to the community started shooting indiscriminately at anyone in sight and setting their houses ablaze.
According to Alechenu, unconfirmed number of residents were feared killed, while several houses were set ablaze during the attack by the marauding herders
However, an eyewitness who joined the security response team in combing the area in search of missing persons, Elaigwu Idoko told our correspondent that seven (7) corpses have so far been recovered from the scene of the attack.
Idoko said the team was still combing the surrounding bushes in search of missing persons.
When contacted, the lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Kennedy Angbo, who confirmed the incident through a telephone interview, said the attackers invaded the community at about 5:30pm on Tuesday.
The lawmaker who hails from Akpa district also said unconfirmed aside those killed, hundreds of residents were trooping out of the community for fear of the unknown.
Another resident of Otobi Community, Edwin Emma who also spoke on the phone, confirmed that some persons were killed, lamenting “We are helpless”, even as he called for help from government and security forces.
“We are being attacked by herdsmen at the Otobi community; second time in one month. My wife and children are trekking to get out from the community as I speak to you. We need help,” he said.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene was unsuccessful as her number was switched off.
