By Akinwale Kasali
There is tension in Benue State as suspected Herdsmen have killed a Soldier and two persons, injuring another in separate attacks on Ochumekwu and Udedeku communities in Apa and Kwande Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Benue State respectively.
It was gathered that the Military personnel, attacked Sunday afternoon, were part of the troops of the military spike operation, code named Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, deployed to the State to stem the activities of armed herdsmen and bandits terrorising the locals.
They were said to have come under attack while on patrol in the community. That attack came as two others were also killed and several others sustained injuries during a raid on Udedeku community of Maav-Ya, Mkoonmom district of Mbaikyor Council Ward, Turan Jato-Aka in Kwande LGA.
It was gathered from a source in the area that the armed herdsmen who had already taken over five Council Wards in Turan and the three Wards in Ikyurav Ya, invaded Udedeku community where they ambushed the victims and slaughtered them like animals.
He said, “apart from the two persons they killed like animals, as you can see from the pictures, several other persons also sustained injuries in the attack.
“At the moment all the five Council Wards in Turan and the three in Ikyurav Ya, in Kwande East are occupied by the Fulani herdsmen.
“The people have fled their homes to seek refuge elsewhere for fear of being killed by well armed herdsmen.”
Confirming the attack on his troops, the Force Commander of OPWS, Maj. Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia informed that three of the marauders were also killed in the offensive and several of their arms recovered.
He said “the suspected armed herdsmen attacked the soldiers deployed in Ochumekwu, Apa LGA. They killed one personnel, and wound one.
“The troops in response killed three and injured several of them. They recovered one AK47 rifle and rounds of ammunition from them.”
On the incident in Kwande LGA, he said “OPWS is currently carrying out a clearance operation to flush out suspected armed foreign herders who have invaded the LGA.”
