March 24, (THEWILL) — No fewer than four lives were alleged to have been lost, with several others injured in some Council Ward in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, following an attack by fleeing herdsmen on Sunday night.
According to an eyewitness account, seven of the ten Council wards in Logo Local Government Area affected by the invasion are Nenzev, Yonov, Turan, Mbater, Tombo, Mbagber, and Ukemberagy/Tswarev, whose residents are fleeing for safety.
One of the community leaders in the area, Chief Joseph Anawa, alleged that some armed herdsmen who were moving out of Tombo Council Ward on Sunday, due to the intensity of the border clearance operations launched by joint security forces, later attacked some communities and villages in Yonov and Nenzev Council Wards.
According to him, in Yonov Council Ward, on that fateful day, at about 15:00 hours, herders attacked some villages in the Mbamar clan and killed Atume Adudu and Orndii, a relation of the Kindred head of Yonov, Chief Abuur Orndii, while many people were injured, with others escaping unhurt.
He further alleged that in Nenzev Council Ward, another group of bandits attacked Tse Kyegh village, during which Aondona Ayegh and Ahongur Toho were killed.
“There were many stray cows in the Council Wards. Some fleeing armed herdsmen were sighted occupying ancestral communities deserted in Nenzev Council Ward”, Anawa stated.
He noted that the situation has created fear in the communities, as many people in the two Council Wards have started relocating to safer communities.
While advocating for the deployment of more security operatives to monitor the situation and take quick security measures and dislodge herders for peace to prevail, he added that Tse Agure village, located near Mchia community, was also attacked, where two people sustained serious machete injuries.
The community leader, therefore, suggested the stationing of security personnel in the area to protect residents, noting that communities in Tombo, Mbagber, Yonov, and Nenzev Council Wards are on high alert, fearing further attacks.
The Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Udet, could not be reached for confirmation as of the time of filing this report.
