Suspected Herders Kill Four, Burn Houses In Benue

Some suspected herders have caused serious chaos and commotion in Benue State.

The PUNCH reports that four people were reportedly killed in separate attacks by suspected herders on two communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

Several houses were also said to have been razed down by the marauding herders.

Last week, nine people were killed in separate attacks in the same Guma LGA by suspected herders.

Coincidentally, the state goovernor, Samuel Ortom hails from Guma LGA.

In the latest attacks that happened on Friday and early hours of Saturday; September 9th and 10th 2022, locals told our correspondent on the phone that the suspected herders invaded several communities and killed four people.

Three people were reportedly killed at Yogbo community Friday evening and one other killed at Ukohol community early hours of Saturday.

A local who did not want to be named said, “Two women were killed behind Yogbo primary school and another one also within the community yesterday (Friday).

“Incidentally, the chairman of the local government comes from this village (Yogbo).

“Today (Saturday), the attackers killed one person at Ukohol. They also burnt many houses in several villages that were attacked in the area.”

It was gathered that residents of the affected communities have fled for fear of further attacks.

Confirming the attacks, Chairman of the local government, Mike Ubah, said four people were killed in the attacks.

“Four people were killed. Three of them at Yogboh while the remaining one was killed at Ukohor within the said period,” the chairman said in a terse statement to journalists on Saturday.

Efforts to get the State Command Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, to comment on the attacks were not successful as she didn’t pick calls from our correspondent.