Three killed, several injured as herdsmen attack travellers on Benue-Nasarawa road

Armed herdsmen ambushed travellers on the Benue-Nasarawa road, resulting in the loss of three lives and several injuries.

The attack occurred on the busy Makurdi-Lafia road near Ortese, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

This incident unfolded just one week after another group of armed herders targeted and killed three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who were out fishing in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to local sources, the assailants staged their ambush on Thursday evening and Friday morning, targeting innocent travellers near the villages of Hirnyam, Pevkyaa, and Ortaver along the Makurdi-Lafia road. Several individuals sustained severe injuries.

Christopher Waku, the Security Secretary of Guma Local Government Area, confirmed the situation. He revealed that the armed herdsmen had set up ambushes for two consecutive days near Ortese, along the Daudu/Ortese road on the Makurdi-Lafia Highway. In these attacks, they shot and killed three individuals, all of whom were local residents.

“It was not a roadblock; the armed herdsmen stood on the Daudu – Ortese road. They killed two persons on Thursday, at about 5 pm, and injured one person who is currently receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH).

“Today, Friday morning, they killed another person, bringing the total fatalities to three. Regrettably, all the victims were local residents,” Waku said.