A fresh armed herdsmen attack on two communities in Benue State; Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas has cost no fewer than 43 lives, including a mobile police officer and others, between Sunday and Monday.
The attack came upon the residents of Tse Antswam, a suburb of Naka town around 7pm on Sunday and killed a lot of them.
The Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Victor Ormini, who confirmed the news expressed deep sadness recounting how 40 people had been killed I the community just barely a week ago including a MOPOL officer.
“Instead of abating, it’s getting worse, the same people attacked, this time, it’s Naka town. As of now, over 14 corpses have been recovered,” he lamented.
Also, the chairman of Apa LGA, Adams Ocheiga also confirmed the attack stating that he was on his way to the community and would share his report soon.
He however, confirmed that the both communities were attacked.
A resident of Apa LGA who simply identified himself as Tony revealed that more than 25 people were killed in Edikwu Ankpali community around the same time they invaded and attacked Gwer West community.
“over 25 persons at Edikwu Ankpali, in Apa LGA were killed on Sunday and the corpses will soon be buried,” he said on Monday.
A monarch, the Ter Nagi of Gwer West, Daniel Abomtse, said that the attackers appeared in a guerrilla style and unleashed on Tse Antswam which is opposite a military check point along Naka-Makurdi road.
“As I am talking to you now, (Monday) morning, 18 corpses have been recovered and many people sustained varied degree of injuries.
“In fact, the way some people were butchered, I doubt if they will survive. Search is still on because many ran into the bush with gun wounds and some also entered the well to escape the herdsmen,” he said.
The state police command’s spokesperson, DSP. Udeme Edet, said the attack truly happened but was unable to give an exact figure of lives already lost.
“This is to confirm that there was an attack yesterday at Naka and Apa, and to let you know that tactical teams have been deployed and already on ground and are on top of the situation,” she said.
