Herdsmen kill at least 2 in fresh attack

An attack by suspected herdsmen on Thursday, March 22, 2018 has left at least two people dead in Umenger community in Guma local government area of Benue state.

While only two victims have been confirmed dead, the attackers are reported to have butchered several people, including children and some village elders.

"Several persons have deserted their homes for fear of being killed by the heavily armed herdsmen," a resident said.

State governor, Samuel Ortom's Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, confirmed the attack.

"The herders killed two and injured some of the farmers who had gone to get food from their farms.

"While we condemn this unwarranted attack, we expect that the killers will be apprehended by security agencies and brought to justice," he said.

Benue's herdsmen crisis

Benue has been troubled by violent killings this year as a spate of attacks by suspected cattle herders have led to the death of over 100 victims.

At least 24 people were killed during a recent attack carried out on March 5 by herdsmen in Omusu Edimoga, a village in Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state.

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