Attack On Benue Community Claims 20 Lives, Sack Several Villages

From Lateef Taiwo

Attack on Agena and Gbagir communities of Boikyo, Tyulugh council ward of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State Tuesday, by suspected Fulani herdsmen has left over 20 persons dead.

Eyewitness account said the separate incidents affected families of two kindred heads Zaki Apande Kunde and Zaki Adzande whose houses were completely raised down with valuables including food stuffs and other properties carted away by the hoodlums.

The level of insecurity in Ukum LGA has heightened between March1- March 6th with the militia attacking and killing innocent villagers, kidnapping and robbing them of valuables, stressing that no day passes without records of escalated cases of heinous crimes.

The eyewitness also fleeing victim revealed that the suspected herders have insisted on open grazing where their cows are destroying crops and argued that the scenario has drastically affected economic activities in Ukum Local Government Area hence a good number of traders, businessmen and farmers have either closed, or fled the local government for safety as they anticipate more attacks.

He further revealed that rural markets in the area such as Afia, Chito, Gbeji, Jootar, Gbagir and many others are no longer properly functional and disarted.

The eyewitness equally disclosed that the caretaker committee chairman of Ukum Local Government Area Victor Iorzaa was seen at the scene carrying out damaged assessment, affirming that security operatives on the other hand might have tried their best but lamented that the present situation in the area has become unbearable for the people especially with attacks and killings on daily basis.

He called on government to deploy enough security to be stationed in Afia, Chito, Ayati, Jootar, Kyado, Arogo, Vaase, Gbeji, Gbagir and other necessary places in order to stop the killings.

Reacting to the incident during an interview with journalists in Makurdi, police public relations officer,PPRO, of Benue Command SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed eight dead persons and added that police were still searching for missing persons.