Again, blood flows in Benue as herdsmen kill 10 in Apa, Guma, others

Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly unleashed violence in Apa, Kwande, and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State, resulting in the deaths of 10 individuals and numerous injuries.

According to reports, these herders, accompanied by thousands of cattle, have been invading various Benue communities since the onset of the dry season. In the past three days, they have launched relentless attacks on Ubele, Ochumekwu, Adija, Kano, and Ijaha in Apa LGA.

Confirming the attacks, Mr. Eche Akpoko, the National Chairman of the Apa Development Association, expressed distress over the continuous onslaught and loss of lives in Apa due to the actions of the marauders.

He stated, “I can confirm to you that there were serial attacks on the following communities: Ijaha-Ibele, where five people were killed; Ochumekwu recorded three casualties; in Adija, one person was killed, same as Kano community, where one person was also killed. These were all in Apa LGA.”

The violence also spread to Yelewata in Guma LGA, where a middle-aged farmer, Mr. Oryiman Ifa, was reportedly attacked in his cassava farm by herdsmen on Sunday morning. Fortunately, he was rescued by neighbors and rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

The marauders invaded Moon on River Mkomun, near the Cameroon boundary, on Sunday evening, trapping locals and threatening their lives. Some villagers managed to escape after paying a fee to those who aided their exit.

However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, stated that she had not received information regarding the attacks.