Gunmen suspected to be armed herders have killed five people, including two soldiers, in a renewed attack on two communities in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
Some locals who spoke to reporters on Thursday identified the attacked communities as Mgbaigbe and Mbaitye, which are located just a few kilometres from the Turan headquarters in Jato Acka.
According to residents, the incident occurred on Wednesday when the assailants invaded the communities in a commando style, ambushing the soldiers who were conducting surveillance in the area and allegedly killing two of them.
Recall that several communities in Turan land such as Moon, Mbaikyor, Mbadura, Kumakwagh and Yaav recently experienced attacks leading the residents to flee to Jato Acka where they are taking refuge.
Confirming the attack and killing, the leader of the three socio-cultural groups in the state, retired Comptroller of Prison, Iorbee Ihagh who confirmed this to our correspondent on Thursday called on people of the state to brace up and defend themselves.
Ihagh who is the President General of Mdzou U Tiv worldwide said, “These attackers who are Fulani herdsmen are gradually taking over the state and the moment they succeed in capturing Jato Acka, Turan headquarters, then the whole Tiv nation has been captured because Jato Acka is the ancestral home of Tiv nation as Ile Ife is to Yoruba land.
“The information i received was that these Fulani herders invaded Mgbaigbe community yesterday (Wednesday) and killed three natives and two soldiers.
He appealed to the state governor, Hyacinth Alia to take more actions to protect lives and property of the people of the state.
Ihagh also called on Tiv people to resuscitate the traditional ways of confronting and defeating their enemies.
He said, “In the nineteen century, the Tiv people defeated the Fulanis when during the jihad war, what we used then was our poisonous arrow and am calling on our people to go back to the traditional ways and defend themselves. Enough of running away.
Also confirming the attack, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Joe Har said he could not reach out to the military captain who is commanding troops in Kwande area.
“Yes, I heard of the bandit conflict in Kwande area but I can not confirm the casualty because the troops commandant can not be reached due to the hinterland.
When contacted, the spokesperson for Benue Police Command, Catherine Anene neither denied nor confirmed the attack.
“We have officers who have been managing crisis in Kwande”, Anene only said.
Meanwhile, the state government has confirmed the killing of the two soldiers in Kwande.
The state deputy governor, Sam Ode on Thursday during the state executive council meeting bemoaned the loss of the two soldiers.
According to the statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kula Tersoo said, “In a solemn reflection, the Deputy Governor bemoaned the tragic loss of two gallant soldiers from the Nigerian Army, who were murdered by armed herders while on duty, protecting civilians in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area.
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