Herdsmen shoot at soldiers in another attack, 2 captured

Suspected herdsmen were engaged in a shootout with the 707 Special Forces Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.

This was disclosed in a statement by spokesperson of the brigade, Olabisi Ayeni, in a signed statement on Thursday, February 8.

According to Ayeni, the suspected herdsmen had been spotted on a routine patrol and they opened fire on soldiers when they were approached.

He further said the attackers were suspected to be staging an attack on the fish farm of state governor, Samuel Ortom, as well as others in the area that has been troubled since January.

He said, "Troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade, Nigerian Army, on a routine patrol along Gbajimba - Iyiodeh road in Guma LGA of Benue State on Tuesday 6 February 2018 arrested two Fulani militia who were suspected to be planning a dangerous mission.

"The troops sighted a group of these people while on their daily patrol. The militia who were suspected to be converging, possibly for an attack on Governor Ortom's fish farm and other innocent citizens were about to be approached for questioning when they opened fire on the troops who later engaged them.

"When the troops accosted the herdsmen, they opened fire on the troops, who in turn engaged them in a shootout.

"In the course of the shootout, some of the herdsmen fled the area while two were arrested and handed over to the police."

Benue has been plagued with a security crisis since January as a spate of attacks allegedly carried out by herdsmen has resulted in the death of at least 80 people.

Benue attacks

In attacks allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Guma and Logo Local Government Area of Benue between Sunday, December 31, 2017, and Tuesday, January 2, 2018, 50 people were reportedly killed.

11 other people were killed in a fresh attack on Tombu village of Logo LGA, again by suspected Fulani herdsmen, on Saturday, January 6.

The bodies of 73 men, women and children were buried at a mass burial ceremony organised by the state government on January 11.