At least eight mourners have been reported killed at a wake keep alongside five others in separate attacks with scores of others sustaining serious injuries when suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded Tse-Ishav, Mbawa, Mbagwen and Mbalagh council wards of Guma and Logo local government areas of Benue state.
The assassins also burnt down several houses in Tse-Ngojov and Tse-Nyamkyuma the result of which left hordes of the residents to flee their homes and many others especially old women and men missing.
This has brought to 13, the number people killed in the two local government areas last week.
Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Lawrence Onoja who disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi said, the attacks came barely 48 hours after the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali had called for the suspension of the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law in Benue and other states of the federation.
Mr. Onoja said the invaders made an incursion into those communities using boats near Daudu settlement, a suburb of Mbalagh council ward while others came by motorcycles.
“…hours after the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali called for the suspension of the Prohibition of Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in Benue and other states, in the early hours of June 7, Fulani herdsmen invaded Guma and Logo local government area of the state, killed and destroyed properties.
“Available facts to the state government revealed that 13 Benue indigenes sadly lost their lives to the militant herdsmen, among them a farmer, Emmanuel Kwaryina of Zongu settlement of Mbagwen, Mbalagh council ward”.
“As we speak, some people are still missing in the affected villages, sources in the affected communities revealed that these herdsmen militia invaded Benue using boats near Daudu settlement, a suburb of Mbalagh council ward while others came by motorcycles”.
Mr. Onoja who faulted the Minister over what he described as “provocative statements”, said the implication of statement “is that the militia herdsmen could have been inspired in their attacks on Benue communities and the Benue State government completely lays the blame on this most recent attack on the Minister for Defence for such unguarded utterances”.
The Commissioner who lauded the patriotic position by both chambers of the National Assembly that the Minister retract his statement, applauded the government of Abia State on the passage of the anti-grazing law and called on security agencies to support the implementation of the law which he said is meant to promote peace and development of agriculture and livestock.
