Two Killed as Unknown Herdsmen Attack Guma

By George Okoh In Makurdi

Two persons were yesterday killed by unknown  Fulani herdsmen who attacked farmers on their farms in Guma local government area of Benue State

According to a resident  the herdsmen came from Nasarawa State to the area to graze their cows and in the process attacked the people in their farms.

He said since the deployment of Operation Whirl Stroke in the area, the herdsmen had left their communities to stay along Nasarawa State border with Benue.

According to another source one of those killed was identified as Mr. Kpesa had since been buried, while the corpse of the other victim was taken away by police.

When contacted the chairman of the local government, Anthony Shawon, confirmed that the kindred head of Angela community intimated him about the incident.

Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom has alerted the military Operation Whirl Stroke and other security forces in the state that armed herdsmen were threatening to unleash fresh terror attacks on innocent Benue people.

Ortom in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase said, herdsmen had sent a message to the people of Mbagwen community in Guma local government area that they will attack in matter of days; the threat was confirmed by the Council Chairman of Guma LGA.

According to the Governor, “two days ago, herdsmen drove the people of Tse-Ado and the surrounding villages out of their homes after they killed two farmers at Angela community. The threats are coming on the heels of the return of some internally displaced persons from the IDPs camps to their ancestral homes.

“The question is; why are the attacks resuming at a time the harvest season is here? We suspect that the planned invasion is targeted at preventing the people from harvesting the few crops they were able to cultivate amid the mindless attacks which took place earlier in the year,” he questioned.

Ortom who commended the Commander, officers and men of Operation Whirl Stroke for the great job they have done to ensure the return of the IDPs to their communities, urged them not to take the latest threat of attack lightly, by moving swiftly to forestall the evil agenda of the armed herdsmen and their sponsors.

Confirming the killing, the PPRO Benue State Police Command Moses Yamu said they received report of the herdsmen alleged matcheted to death one Shiaondo Goom (30years) in his farm and the police have commenced investigation.