Suspected herdsmen kill 15 in Benue community

Suspected armed herders on Wednesday, invaded Anyiin town in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue and killed about 15 people in a renewed attack.

Anyiin town is the country home of the former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam.

According to a community leader, Joseph Anawah, the attackers invaded the town around 6:32 pm, where they reportedly killed 15 people, and several others sustained a varied degree of Injuries.

The community leader who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday said that the suspected armed herders, numbering over 20 and heavily armed, took the whole town by surprise and operated for almost three hours.

According to him, “Fulani militia terrorists yesterday Wednesday, October 30, 2024, unleashed terror on Anyiin town Logo LGA of Benue state in an operation that started about 6:32 pm, leaving over 15 people dead and some with various degrees of injuries while others are missing.

“Among those murdered in the gruesome attack were a retired Primary School Supervisor, Orihundu Ati, and the son of the Kindred Head of Mbawuave, Zaki Mbatern.

He listed others to include the son of the former Chief of Staff to the former Logo local government chairman, Tordoo Suswam, and the son of Mr. Uyange Chembe, younger brother to the late District Head of Ukemberagya, Zaki John Chembe.

Anawah said that Wednesday’s attack was the second in October and called on the state government to collaborate with the federal government to provide maximum security in the flash point.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive a report of the incident.

But the Special Adviser to the State Governor on security and external affairs, retired Col. Alex Igbaya, confirmed the attack but declined comment on the number of casualties.

He said, “Security people already deployed to the area; military men are there.”