Herdsmen on Rampage In Benue Communities

*Five feared dead
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
No fewer than five persons were feared dead on
Saturday morning in a fresh attack on parts of
Chambe and Anawah settlements, at Gaambe-Tiev,
in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, by
suspected herdsmen.
Sunday Vanguard gartherd that the affected
communities were invaded at about 9am when
most of the locals were already in their farms.
According to a source who claimed to have
witnessed the attacks, the armed herdsmen
stormed the villages, singing war songs, shooting
sporadically and torching houses, huts and food
barns in the affected communities.
He said, “like the cases before now, this latest
attack was unprovoked, the armed herdsmen
stormed the settlements shooting sporadically and
singing at the same time.
“People started running for their lives but
unfortunately about five persons were gunned down
and several persons sustained machete cuts and
bullet wounds.
“As if that was not enough, after chasing the people
away, they took over and occupied the affected
settlements while some houses and huts were also
set ablaze as I speak with you.
“That is the situation we have found ourselves in
this part of the country; we are completely helpless,
our women and children are being tormented
almost on a weekly basis. Maybe the herdsmen
want us to vacate Benue State for them.
“At the moment most of our people are also moving
in their numbers from villages nearest to the
attacked communities. Majority of them are fleeing
to Anyii, the local government headquaters where
most of the wounded are also receiving medical
attention.”
When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer,
PPRO, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Moses Yamu,
said he was yet to get the details of the latest
attack.