BEVERLY HILLS, April 14, (THEWILL) – About 15 persons were on Wednesday morning murdered in cold blood by persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Gor village, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State
This happened shortly after unknown gunmen ambushed three trucks and burnt all to ashes, with 11 persons slaughtered on the spot.
Soldiers, in the same vicinity, unleashed a reprisal attack by burning over 200 houses, for their colleagues reportedly slain by local militias
Other occupants of the trucks were allegedly abducted to unknown destinations at Peva in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.
While the attack in Gwer West by the suspected herdsmen targeted mourners who were observing a wake in honour of a lost one, that in Peva was reportedly carried out by unknown gunmen and was reportedly targeted at traders on their way to the popular Peva Market in the area.
Chief Daniel Abomtse who spoke to THE WILL however informed that the number of dead bodies taken to his palace was seven at the time of the interview.
Abomtse who is the paramount ruler in Gwer West did not however rulle out the possibility of more dead bodies being recovered in the wake of the attack as, according to him, rescue efforts were still ongoing.
Alhough there were no official confirmation as regarding the two attacks at the time of filing this report as efforts to reach the police and the council chairmen in the affected areas failed, eyewitnesses confirmed the two ugly incidents.
Bodies of the victims, according to sources, had also been deposited at mortuaries in the affected areas.
The latest mayhem comes on the heels of a bombardment allegedly carried out by the Nigerian Army following the suspectad killing of their personnel in Konshisha Local Government Area by a militia group.
In Konshisha, locals informed that about 200 houses were burnt down by the military in what it said was a search for their missing personnel and weapons alledgedly carted away by the said militia group.
Governor Samuel Ortom, in a comunique after a security council meeting at the Benue People’s House, condemned the killing of the military personnel and apologised to the Nigerian Army over the sad incidence.
Meanwhile condemnations have trailed the killing and abduction of traders at Peva in Katsina-Ala.
In a telephone interview on Wednesday, the Member representing Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Federal Constituency, Dr. Richard Gbande, described the incidence as most unfortunate.
The Lawmaker added that it was sad giving that government and stakeholders had done so much in efforts to rid the area of criminal activities yet, such ugly incidents were still being carried out.
Gbande, while sympathising with the families of those killed in the attack, said efforts would also be intensified towards seing that those abducted regained freedoom.
He expressed concerns that the attack was going to affect economic activities at Peva Market, which, he noted, was one of the most viable in the area especially in the area of foodstuff.
He urged residents not to resort to taking the law into their hands as, according to him, he was going to liase with the Benue State Government and other critical stakeholders with a view to halting such in the future.
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