Suspected armed herders have killed about 19 people in renewed attacks on some communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
In the first attack, which was reported to have happened on Saturday, 16 farmers who were returning to their village were killed along Kashimbila Road and their bodies were thrown into River Katsina-Ala.
According to a resident from Mbanduwa who did not want to be named, “The farmers were returning to their community in Mbanduwa ward when they were ambushed along Kashimbila road and killed.
“Their bodies were dropped in River Katsina-Ala.”
The second attack, which occurred on Monday afternoon at Boaguwa in Kumakua council ward in the same local government, was said to have claimed three lives.
It was gathered that residents of communities within the area have fled to Jato Acka for safety.
The President General of Mzough U Tiv Worldwide and leader of the three socio-cultural groups (Mzough U Tiv, OchiitaK’idoma, and Om’Ngede), Comptroller of Prison, Iorbee Ihagh (retd), confirmed the killings.
He added that all six council wards in Turan within the local government have been deserted.
Ihagh, who was at Jato Acka when he spoke to our correspondent on the phone on Monday evening, said that 16 farmers were killed on Saturday and their bodies thrown into River Katsina-Ala.
He said, “I am right now in Jato Acka. I was told that 16 farmers were killed along Kashimbila Road at the weekend and their bodies thrown into River Katsina-Ala.
“As I am talking to you now, armed herders have attacked Boaguwa in Kumakua council ward, and three dead bodies have been recovered.
“People have fled their communities and taken refuge in Jato Acka. I doubt if this place (Jato Acka) is safe right now.”
Ihagh, who claimed that all the six council wards in Turan in Kwande LGA have been overrun by suspected armed herders, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to deploy more troops to the local government.
When contacted, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har, directed our correspondent to the Director General of Internal Security, Israel Gbawuam, for confirmation.
However, Gbawuam’s telephone number was out of reach when our correspondent tried to call him.
Similarly, efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue Command, Catherine Anene, were not successful as she dropped the call made to her cell phone.
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