Suspected herders attack farmers in Benue, kill many, scores missing

Suspected herders attack farmers in Benue, kill many, scores missing

Many people have been reportedly killed and scores declared missing in Ugbobi community of the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, following an attack on farmers in the community by suspected herdsmen.

The attack was said to have started on Wednesday and continued up until the early hours of Thursday.

It was not immediately clear if those missing had been killed or fled the community.

Channels Television in a report quoted a community leader, Eric Amodu, as saying, “We have been living in fear and apprehension from possible attack by suspected herdsmen given their influx into the community and its surrounding.

“But last night, the violent attack began with our people being killed in numbers while many of them fled the community.

“Just as they (residents) made to see what is left of the community, the second round of attack by the armed herders began, and as I speak, all the people I have been calling to get their whereabouts are not responding to calls.

“We urgently need help from security operatives and the government at all levels before we are all consumed.”

Police spokesperson for the state command, Sewuese Anene, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Emmanuel Adesina, visited Apa last week to ensure adequate troops deployment but that her office was yet to get information on the latest attack.

Benue rural communities have become unsafe for farmers and villagers alike in the last couple of years due to persistent herdsmen attacks, in what has become a fashion across the state, leading to the displacement of native dwellers from their ancestral homes and farmlands.