Benue: Armed Herders Kill Four People

Suspected armed herders have killed four people and injured several others in Abaashwa, a small village in Mbaasar, Nzorov Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State.

The attack happened around 11 p.m. on Monday and lasted for about an hour. Abraham Kyambe, a local resident, shared details of the incident with reporters.

Mr Kyambe named the victims as Emberga Akombu, Terver Pool, Emberga Tersoo and Pool Tersoo. He also mentioned that James Agir, Bunde Pool, Akombu Jeremiah and another person were hurt and are getting treatment at the General Hospital in Gbajimba.

According to Mr Kyambe, many residents think the attack might be connected to the recent arrest of an armed herder in their community. But there is no official confirmation of this connection.

He said that about two weeks ago, locals reported to the police about armed herders grazing their cattle in the area. They claimed some herders had rifles and damaged farmland while grazing.

Mr Kyambe stated that the police later arrested one of the herders who was found with a rifle while grazing cattle in the community. He also said that the injured victims faced delays in getting medical care because doctors at the General Hospital, Gbajimba, were on strike.

Residents are calling on the federal and Benue State governments to send more security personnel to the area. They want to stop the repeated attacks on farming communities.

Attempts to get a response from the Benue State Police Command were not successful. Calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Aondongu, went unanswered at the time of this report.

This latest attack adds to ongoing violence in Benue State. PREMIUM TIMES reported on 29 July that at least 15 people died when suspected armed herders attacked the Efeyi community in the Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area. This happened just a day after another attack took one life in nearby Ipom-Ugboju.

Earlier, on 27 July, suspected armed herders killed three people and injured two others in separate attacks on Elulu and Agadagba communities in Ohimini Local Government Area. This occurred two days after the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s successor, Olatunji Disu, visited Benue and promised better security.

On 13 July, the police confirmed that eight people, including five adults and three children, were killed in attacks on Akpachi and Otukpo-Nobi communities in Otukpo Local Government Area.

The recent attacks followed the 26 June killing of Risku Mohammed, the Benue Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and his associate, Yakubu Isah. They were ambushed while returning from a peace meeting in Ohimini.

While security agencies have not connected these incidents, some locals fear that the attacks might be revenge.

Meanwhile, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue, condemned the recent killings in Guma. He called them "barbaric, heartbreaking, and yet another painful reminder of the worsening security situation in Benue State."

In a statement released on Tuesday by his media aide, James Ian, Mr Aondoakaa said that these ongoing attacks have pushed many farmers off their ancestral lands and threaten the state's agricultural economy.

He added that reports of injured victims facing delays in getting medical treatment due to the doctors' strike in the state are concerning. He urged the government to ensure emergency healthcare for those affected by violent attacks.