In an attack that signposts the escalation of attacks on hapless farmers by suspected armed herdsmen, a farmer has been reportedly beheaded while four others were killed in Tse-Apera, Nzorov, Governor Samuel Ortom’s home town in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
It was reliably gathered that the invaders stormed the village from neighbouring Nasarawa state in the early hours of Sunday, shooting sporadically.
A source in the area who gave his name as Shagbaor said “the sound of the gunfire created pandemonium in the village. People woke up from sleep and were running in different directions but some hide in their houses and refused to come out.
“The attackers who were speaking in their Fulani language started knocking on people’s doors and where they refused to come out the doors were broken down and the occupants shot or hacked to death.
“Strangely, they did not burn down the village, after killing four of our people and beheading another they left many injured, looted whatever farm produce they saw after which they withdrew and returned to neighboring Nasarawa state,” Shagbaor added.
The Chairman of Guma LGA, Mr. Caleb Abah who confirmed the attack said he received reports of the attack that led to the beheading of another
He confirmed that “the attack happened around 5am on Sunday, the herdsmen invaded the village (Tse Apera) and shot at the people that came out. For those who did not come out, they were dragged out and shot. They killed two on the spot and one of them was beheaded while eight others were injured.
“Six of the injured were taken to Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH in Makurdi and two to General Hospital in Gbamjimba but one of the injured persons that was taken to BSUTH died Monday morning.”
The Benue state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Breeders Association, MACBAN, Rosku Mohammed denied knowledge of the incident
“I cannot deny that it happened or not but I want to work with the state government. As a leader, there is no religion that encourages killing of human beings. We should learn to follow due process and not take the laws into our hands. The matter should be investigated,” he noted
The Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Catherine Anene who confirmed the attack said the Command had a record of two deaths and five injured victims in the attack.