Two killed in fresh attack on Benue communities

A media aide to the governor, Joseph Anawah, said the invaders killed and maimed as well looted the property of their victims.

The Police in Benue have confirmed that two persons were killed in renewed attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen against Tiv farmers in three communities in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue on Friday.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ezeala, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the suspects laid siege on Tse Chembe, Ifer and Tse-Gundu communities.

Mr. Ezeala said that two persons lost their lives in the attack which lasted for hours in the early hours of the day.

However, witnesses said the attack which lasted for at least six hours, left five people dead.

The communities are located along the Anyiin/Wukari road, near the hometown of Governor Gabriel Suswam.

A media aide to the governor, Joseph Anawah, said the invaders killed and maimed as well looted the property of their victims.

Mr. Anawah explained that the insurgents came in two groups and used different routes to invade the villages.

“One group came through Ikapa-Tse Gundu road to attack Chembe village.

“The other group emerged from a farm route and came out at Achive, where they mounted a road block along Anyiin- Wukari road,” he said.

Mr. Anawah said that settlers in three areas recently returned to their homes to cultivate their farm lands, following a peace agreement.

The attack on villages in the Local Government is coming barely a week after a peace treaty brokered by the DIG (Operations) of the Nigeria Police Force, Michael Zoukomo.

The treaty was between leaders of Fulani herdsmen and Tiv/Agatu farmers; after dozens of people were killed in earlier clashes.

The Benue governor had claimed that the herdsmen used unknown chemicals during one of the attacks. He called for a thorough investigation to determine the kind of chemicals used in the attack.

The attacks between herdsmen and farmers continued despite the heavy deployment of soldiers to the area by the defence headquarters.

The GOC 82 Div, Maj.-Gen. Shehu Yusuf, has been redeployed to Benue to ensure timely resolution of the crisis.

(NAN)