Two people have been killed yesterday following attacks by suspected herdsmen who invaded Waku village and a part of Gbajimba town located in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue state. The suspected herdsmen vandalized the farm house of Governor Samuel Ortom during the attacks.
This incident occurred less than a day after the community of Yogbo in the same local government area was attacked leaving six people dead along with many properties and farmlands vandalized. It took the intervention of the Benue State Police to prevent the attack from escalating.The police were able to run them out of the community.
Commissioner of Police in the state Fatai Owoseni acknowledged the attacks took place and he stated that the herdsmen which were supported by militia groups barged laid siege in broad daylight in Waku village.
“The herdsmen, backed by their militia, invaded Waku village this afternoon (yesterday) and killed two persons,” said Owoseni at the State Police Command Headquarters. His statement was supported by the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area Mr Anthony Shawon.
Mr Shawon praised the efforts of the Police for preventing the violent attack in Yogbo community from being a full-blown massacre. He appealed to them to keep ensuring the security of the people from violent invasions by herdsmen.
It has been alleged by the Benue State Government that the herdsmen are being patronized and supported by prominent Nigerians. The Commissioner of Information and Orientation Lawrence Onoja Jnr was of the view that the request to repeal the anti-open grazing law in Benue which according to Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-ali was the cause for the killings in the state confirmed suspicions that prominent Nigerians masterminded the killings.
Onoja made his view on the matter known at a private meeting with members of the joint Senate committee on Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence at his appearance before the committee as summoned by the Senate.
“The IGP is said to have identified the implementation of the anti-open grazing law and the arming of the Tiv Militia as causes of the crisis.” said the Commissioner who viewed the statement as absurd and very unfortunate coming from a top security chief such as Ibrahim Idris.
The State Government announced that though the President ordered the Inspector General to deploy to Benue State to douse the crisis, records show the Inspector General was briefly seen in the state for just a day after which he left the state.
The Benue state governor Samuel Ortom, the Benue State House of Assembly and leaders of various socio-cultural groups had written a petition to the President and all relevant Security agencies in the country warning of threats made by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who protested against the anti-grazing law and has threatened to attack the state. In spite of the petition, nothing was done by those responsible to secure lives and property which resulted in the violent attacks which have claimed innocent lives.
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