Three lives lost in Benue herdsmen attack

Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly claimed the lives of three individuals in Imatom village, located in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. This unfortunate incident occurred on Saturday, as disclosed by community leader Anawa Joseph, who highlighted the continuous attacks by herders in the area, leading to loss of life and displacement of residents.

The victims of this latest attack were identified as Tertsea Terkimbi Adagundu, Tertsea Mkposu, and Mimidoo Umburga. According to Anawa Joseph, these young men fell victim to the violence inflicted by Fulani militia herdsmen in the vicinity of Imatom village Square, near Chembe, Ukemberagya, Logo Local Government, Benue State, on Saturday at approximately 9 pm. Their remains have been placed in the NKST hospital morgue in Anyiin.

Anawa Joseph expressed concerns regarding the renewed and seemingly unprovoked attacks by herdsmen, which he believes are intended to displace local farmers, making way for cattle to graze on yet-to-be-harvested crops.

He noted the escalating violence that Gaambe-Tiev, a local government area, has witnessed since September 2023, stating that Saturday’s attack marked the fourth such incident.

He detailed some of the previous attacks, mentioning that in early September, one Monday Hembaku was killed by Fulani herdsmen while tending to his cassava farm. His body remains at the NKST Anyiin morgue.

On September 29th, two women, Mrs. Lember Ornguga and Dinnah Chembe, were attacked and severely wounded by Fulani marauders while gathering firewood. They were promptly attended to at a medical facility, and they are currently in recovery.

Another assault took place on October 11th, when two young men, Mr. Mbaadega Vihimga and Chuku Gaku, were attacked by Fulani militia while returning from Zebo Market, where they had purchased fish. They sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at a medical facility in Iorza.

Anawa called upon both the state and federal governments to deploy security forces to the region to address the growing security concerns.

In response to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state police command, Catherine Anene, stated that she did not possess information about the Saturday attack at this time.

Suspected armed herdsmen reportedly killed three people at Imatom village in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday.

This was disclosed by a community leader, Anawa Joseph, who said the incessant attacks by herders had led to the loss of lives and displacement of people in the area.

He gave the names of the latest victims as Tertsea Terkimbi Adagundu, Tertsea Mkposu, and Mimidoo Umburga.

He said, “These three young men were killed by Fulani militia herdsmen at Imatom village Square near Chembe, Ukemberagya, Logo Local Govt, Benue State yesterday, Saturday, at about 9 pm.

“Their corpses have been deposited at NKST hospital morgue, Anyiin.

“All these renewed attacks and killing without any provocation are aimed at displacing the peasant farmer in order to pave the way for cattle to graze on their crops which are yet to be harvested.”

The community leader, who chronicled the spate of renewed attacks by herdsmen on the people of Gaambe-Tiev in the local government area since the beginning of September 2023, said Saturday’s attack was the fourth.

He added, “Recently, on Saturday 3/9/23 at about 11 am, one Monday Hembaku of Chembe village was accosted and killed on his cassava farm by Fulani herdsmen. His corpse is still lying at NKST Anyiin morgue.

“Five days later, on Friday 29/9/23, at about 2 pm, two women from the same village (Chembe), Mrs Lember Ornguga and Dinnah Chembe, were macheted and badly wounded by Fulani marauders when they went to fetch firewood.

“They were rushed to a medical facility by men of Operation Wilds Stroke station at Arufu a nearby settlement where they are recuperating.

“Another attack took place on Wednesday 11/10/23 around 9 am at Iorza along Tse Abiem road where two young men, Mr. Mbaadega Vihimga and Chuku Gaku, who went to buy fish at Zebo Market near River Benue, were waylaid on their way back by Fulani militia who inflicted them with various degrees of injuries.

“They are now receiving treatment at a medical facility at Iorza, and the killing of these three young men yesterday, Saturday 14/10/23 at about 9 pm.”

Anawa urged the state and federal governments to deploy security to the area.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state police command, Catherine Anene, said in a terse message that she didn’t have information about the Saturday attack.

“I don’t have that information,” she said.