Not less than 24 persons have been reportedly killed in renewed attacks by suspected herdsmen in various communities in Benue state.
The killings were said to have been perpetrated between April 2 and 4.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Members of the house of representatives from Benue said that killer herdsmen attacked seven communities in the state, and are also laying siege on some others.
Dickson Takighir, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said: “These latest attacks have occurred in Ikyon and Agasha on April 3 and April 4; in Semaka, Asom, Babanruwa on April 3 and in Udei and Umenger on April 2.
“They (the herdsmen) are right now stationed at Nzorov council ward, ready to attack Gbajimba in the Guma Local Government Area. There are others in Nasarawa, ready to attack Udei and Daudu with over 14 people killed in the last four days.
“Similarly, Sengev, Mbakyondo and Mbapa areas of Gwer-West local government area are currently under siege by armed herdsmen.
“In Tsegaase, two people have been killed; one person is missing in Zwatema, two killed in Tse Adeke, one killed in Tse Adudu with one missing in Tsekelefu.
“So far, we have yet to confirm the casualty level in Enger. On April 3, four people were killed in Anyebe and one person at Mbavihi both in Tonbo ward of Logo local government.”
Meanwhile, the Benue Police Command says it has recovered 10 corpses of villagers killed by suspected armed bandits in Tse-Audu and Enger villages in Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement on Friday in Makurdi, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Moses Yamu said the corpses were victims of the Thursday attacks on the villages.
He said they had been found by the mobile police contingent deployed to Naka, the capital of the local government council.
He attributed the deaths to armed bandits, claiming that the police had in their routine surveillance, also encountered the bandits.
“Eight dead bodies were found in the bush around Tse-Audu and Enger villages in Gwer West local government.
“This is in addition to the two bodies that were removed from the same area on the same day,’’ he said.
The Police spokesman, however, assured residents of the communities of the safety of their lives, pointing out that a detachment of police team on counter insurgency had been deployed to the area.
He also advised members of the public to promptly report any suspicious movements to security agencies for immediate action.
Gwer West local government had in 2012 and 2014 witnessed several conflicts involving farmers and herders.
