Suspected armed herders have invaded the Okpomaju community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing five people, with several others sustaining varying degrees of injury.
Several houses were reportedly set ablaze by the rampaging armed herders.
The invasion and killings occurred three days after hunters and armed herders clashed in the community, which led to the deaths of two hunters and one herder.
It was reported that armed herders, believed to be new to Okpomaju community, had attacked hunters on a hunting expedition on Monday.
The traditional ruler of Otukpo, Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, and the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, Maxwell Ogiri, told newsmen that measures were underway to resolve the issues, ensure peaceful co-existence, and expose criminals among both parties.
While the resolution process was ongoing, it was learnt that a group of around 12 armed herders invaded Okpomaju village on Wednesday evening, shooting sporadically, leading to the deaths of five people and several others being injured.
The renewed hostility, accompanied by massive killings and the destruction of houses in Okpomaju, appeared to have relegated the resolution efforts to the background.
A local, who wished to remain anonymous but spoke to newsmen on the phone Thursday evening, said, “The attack was unprovoked. The hunters were at home in Okpomaju when the armed herders, numbering 12, stormed the village with sophisticated guns, shooting indiscriminately.
“In the process, they killed Peter, popularly known as JPG, and Moses, while others ran in different directions into the nearby bushes to escape the gunfire.
“So far, we have recovered three dead bodies from those who fled into the bush, bringing the total to five. The fifth was recovered near Odudaje stream.
“As I speak with you, we are at the graveside, burying one of the victims and awaiting the other bodies from the mortuary. We are with over 200 Otukpo hunters.”
People from neighbouring communities, such as Odudaje, Amla, Emichi, and Otukpo-Icho, were said to have fled their homes.
Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Mr Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attack to newsmen on Thursday, stating that security agents, including soldiers and the police, had been deployed to Okpomaju community to protect residents and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful, as she did not answer her phone when our correspondent attempted to contact her.
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