By Matthew Ajai-Kume
People suspected to be armed Fulani herdsmen at the weekend ambushed members of the Benue State Livestock Guard and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Agro Rangers Unit, killing a member of the Livestock Guard and a member of the Agro Rangers Unit was seriously injured as a result of gun shot.
Briefing journalists Saturday at the Benue People’s House, Makurdi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Lt Col Paul Hemba (Rtd) said, the men of the NSCDC, Agro Rangers Unit accompanied State Livestock Guard on their normal duty and responsibility of enforcing the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law at Mbalagh community, Makurdi Local Government Area, and on their way back, the suspected armed Fulani herdsmen ambushed and attacked them, leaving one person dead and one officer badly wounded.
“The body of the state Livestock Guard officer who was killed by the armed Fulani herdsmen is deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary, while that of the wounded Agro Rangers Unit officer is being treated by medical personnel,” he stated.
According to Lt Col Hemba, men of the military, known as Operation Whirl Stroke were called to assist but before they arrived at the scene of the incidence, the suspected armed Fulani herdsmen left, while he assured that, no thing shall derail the state in sustaining and enforcing the law.
On his part, the State Commander, Livestock Guard, Linus Zaki, reiterated the commitment of the Guard in enforcing the law and called on the people of the state to support them.
