Herders kill six, raze houses in attack on Benue community

Herders kill six, raze houses in attack on Benue community

Armed herders wreaking havoc in Nigeria’s middle belt State of Benue have struck again, killing six perosns.

The assailants also razed houses during the attack which happened in Ayilamo community of Logo Local Government Area of the State.

Many residents in the communities are said to be missing after the weekend attack on the settlement located along the Abinsi- Anyiin – Wukari federal highway.

The community shares a boundary with Wukari in Taraba State and has witnessed frequent communal clashes between the neighbouring communities.

An eyewitness, Terwase Avande disclosed that suspected armed herdsmen with herds of cattle stormed the community at dawn and shot sporadically, setting houses ablaze.

”The herdsmen came alongside their cattle, well-armed, as they shot at houses while the cattle advanced into the main Ayilamo town”.

Avande stated that the attack was initially thwarted and the damages minimised after the assailants were repelled following a swift intervention of members of Operation Whirl Stroke, a military troop.

The herdsmen, however, returned and attacked the community including the Police Station on Saturday at about 2pm despite the presence of military personnel.

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A community leader, Chief Paul Adetsav, attributed the incessant attacks on the community to the discovery of mineral resources in the area.

He said: ”The attempt to overrun the community is a result of some mineral resources which were said to have been found in the area.

“So many mineral resources have been found in Tombo land and illegal mining activities have been going on until Benue State put a stop to it.

“Since then, the intensity of the attacks has increased. The invaders keep threatening us with bloody violence on a daily basis, killing and maiming our people and setting our houses ablaze.

”We no longer go to our farms. The few planted crops have been destroyed by the armed herdsmen using cows who go into the farms and match over them. Hunger is killing us and our children have nothing to eat for years.

“The government which has oversight over security is doing nothing to save us. Gradually, the invaders who are well armed are closing up on Ayilamo with a population of over 400,000 people.”

The Logo Divisional Police office in Ugba has confirmed the attack on Ayilamo community.

The Chairman of Logo Local Government Council, Clement Ukav, also confirmed the incident and assured that he was doing everything possible to arrest the situation

Herders kill six, raze houses in attack on Benue community