Again, suspected herdsmen kill 16 in Benue

At least 16 persons were allegedly killed by suspected herdsmen on Saturday in some communities Agagbe, Gwer West local government areas

The affected communities attacked were; Tse Tuma, Chiachia and Tse Targu and neighbouring villages.

According to the chairman of Gwer West local government, Francis Ayagan the herders’ militia invaded the communities and killed sixteen people.

The sub sector commander of the Operation Whirl Stroke in charge of Gwer West, Flying Officer, Mohammed Abubakar told newsmen that the attack occurred on Saturday.

Abubakar added that the attack might have been a reprisal attack following the rustling of cows previous day by people suspected by militants who camouflaged in military uniforms, stressing that seven corpses have been recovered from the scene of the incident.

“At about 4.30 pm on Saturday information got to me that some people dressed in military uniforms were sighted at Agape forest and I mobilised my men to the forest, there was fire.

“My men embarked on a search as well as carried out the investigation and discovered that those behind the rustling of cows are members of the livestock guards.

“We later traced them to Ter Nagi’s Palace and discovered 22 cattle there but he claimed that the herd belong to him even before the coming of OPWS to the area.

“As I speak with you, they are selling the meat at the market. The DPO also, gave names of seven (7) persons who are members of the Livestock Guard involved in the incident.

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“Just this afternoon, our men went on mop up patrol and discovered four (4) additional dead bodies at the scene of the incident,” Abubakar said.

The force commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Adeyemi Yekini who also confirmed the attack lamented that some unforeseen forces were deliberately trying to throw the state of chaos in the state.

General Yekini assured that his men would continue to chase the armed herdsmen away from the state, but advised those who were fomenting trouble to desist from such act as the law will catch up with them.

The monarch of Naka, headquarters of Gwer West local government, HRH, Ter Nagi Chief Daniel Abomtse said there was heavy attack in some communities in his domain.

Chief Abomtse alleged that four (4) out of seven (7) districts in his domain have been taken over by the herdsmen and appealed to federal government to deploy or station a military post at Agagbe to avert further attacks.