Herdsmen Kill 11 Persons In Benue, Several Others Missing

By Akinwale Kasali

No fewer than 11 persons were killed on Christmas Day when gunmen  suspected to be herdsmen and Jukum militia  attacked communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue state.

It was gathered that the invaders stormed the communities shortly after the residents returned home from the Christmas Day Church Service and were preparing for the day’s celebrations. The gunmen shot sporadically and chased residents.

Confirming the attack, Solomon Amande, a former aide to Samuel Ortom, the immediate past Governor of the state who, also, hails from one of the affected communities said he got the report of the incident from eyewitnesses in the area. He claimed that the attack was allegedly carried out by a combined team of armed herdsmen and Jukum militia.

He stated: “I was briefed about what happened. I was told that given the relative peace for some time now in the communities, the people who deserted their homes due to the activities of armed herdsmen decided to go back home and reside in their communities.

“They settled in their communities and went about the normal activities. Unfortunately, yesterday (Wednesday), being Christmas Day, they went to Church, and after returning home from the service, families were preparing meals, and some were gathering and relaxing at spots to celebrate Christmas when a combined team of armed herdsmen and Jukum militia started attacking from five different places.

“They were chasing people and shooting sporadically, and whoever they caught up with was killed. They did that till they got to Government Secondary School, Anwase.

“They killed about 10 people at Anwase in Mbaikyor Council Ward of Turan. And they also killed one person at Iyaav Council Ward, which is my Council Ward, around Tse Jam River Crossing.

“They carried out the killings in communities at the foot of the mountain. It was indeed a sad Christmas for our people.”

Amande, who confirmed that the matter has been reported to Police, said: “In fact, there is a combined team of military personnel and police stationed at Jato-Aka, our immediate town. And it is expected that the recently launched state security team would, also, be on the ground because it is a crisis-prone area.”

President of Mzough U Tiv, MUT, MUT, worldwide, Chief Iorbee Ihagh, who is from Moon Council Ward, another deserted community in the LGA, confirmed that apart from the 11 dead victims, many others were reported missing and unaccounted for after the attack.

He said: “11 persons were killed, and many are still missing from the attack. The leaders of the affected communities have already reported the incident at the police station.”