February 07, (THEWILL) – Suspected herdsmen in the Okpomaju community, in Otukpo local government area in Benue State, allegedly killed five hunters and injured several others in a renewed attack.
THEWILL recalls that the Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, and the leaders of the armed herders had on Tuesday resolved to ensure peaceful co-existence and expose criminals found amongst the two parties.
The agreement was reached after one herdsman and two hunters had been killed in a counter-attack in the community.
However, the renewed hostility, accompanied by the massive killings and destruction of houses at Okpomaju, appeared to have relegated the resolution to the background.
One of the locals said in a telephone chat that the attack was unprovoked as the hunters were relaxing at Okpomaju community when suspected herders in their numbers stormed the village with sophisticated guns and shooting indiscriminately.
THEWILL learned that three more dead bodies were discovered in the bush, raising the total to five. Additionally, residents have been displaced not only from Okpomaju but also from villages such as Odudaje, Amla, Emichi, and Otukpo-Icho, among others.
The Chairman of Oturkpo Local Government Council, Mr Maxwell Ogiri, said security agents, including soldiers and the police, are already in Okpomaju to protect residents and forestall further breakdown of law and order.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, CSP Sewuese Anene, could not be reached as she could not respond to calls.
