SCORES of people have been feared killed and many others injured as suspected armed herders stormed some Benue local government areas.
The chairman of the Apa Traditional Council in Apa Local Government Area, John Antenyi, reported the incident.
Antenyi said many of his subjects were attacked by the herdsmen, whom he said looted some of the communities.
According to reports, the assailants also broke into nearby Agatu, Guma, and Kwande LGAs, where they launched relentless attacks over a three-week period that resulted in the deaths of several people and injured numerous more.
Antenyi, who spoke with Vanguard newspaper, said communities in his domain, like Akpanta, Ologba, Oyiji, Ikpobi, and Odugbo had been taken over by the invaders in a ceaseless attack on his subjects.
He said, “Fulanis are invading our local governments, and some communities like Ikpobi, Odugbo, Akpanta, Ologba and Oyiji have come under severe attacks. There have been killings and destruction of farm crops in those communities.
“Following the attacks, some of our villages have been deserted. They include Imana, Ologba, Akpanta and Ikobi. The inhabitants have relocated to Ugbokpo, the local government headquarters, and some other communities that have not recorded any attacks.”
In a chat with The ICIR on Saturday, April 1, the Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, confirmed the attacks, saying it was not new.
“That’s not new. We have always had herders in those places. It is not as if those things just happened. It is no news,” Anene said.
A reporter with the ICIR
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