Anthony Iwuoma
Three villages of Mbawa Council Ward in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State were, on Tuesday, reportedly invaded by suspected armed herdsmen.
The invaders, who stormed Chongu Gugor village, killed one Titus Nyitar, raped a woman in her husband’s presence and shot many others, as well as abducting a woman and her child.
However, security personnel succeeded in freeing the mother and child.
The deceased Nyitar was ambushed and killed on his farm while planting yam seedlings. He was alone at the time when the herdsmen killed him after inflicting machete cuts on him.
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Security operatives arrived the scene after the herdsmen had left and recovered his corpse.
The herders struck at yet another village where they raped a housewife in her husband’s presence
A source disclosed: “It was that same armed gang that stormed Tse Gishe and gang-raped a woman in the presence of her husband whom they beat up thoroughly.
“They also moved to Mande Gem village where they shot and injured over eight persons and kidnapped a woman alongside her child, as they were pulling out. Luckily, the woman and her child were later rescued by security personnel. All the injured have been taken to private and public hospitals at Daudu and Gbajimba.
Continuing, he said: “Before this latest attack, these armed herders have been tormenting and attacking our people. But three days ago, a team of joint security personnel’s operation discovered and destroyed the camp they have been using to launch attacks on our communities at Tse Faasema where several farm produce stolen from our communities were also discovered.
“We thought the sacking of their base would save us from further attacks but they came out this time to unleash mayhem on our people after which they fled.
“As we speak, the affected villages have been deserted. The people have fled their homes and many have taken refuge at Daudu Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp,’’ he lamented.
Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Anthony Shawon, blamed the attack on saboteurs in the area who reveal give privileged information to armed herdsmen.
Though the Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Catherine Anene, said she had not got details of the attacks, the Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Security, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (rtd.), described the incident as very regrettable.
“It is most regrettable because the attack came a day after Governor Ortom magnanimously granted rebate and reduced the fine that was to be paid for 460 cows that were seized and quarantined for violating our grazing law, as a goodwill gesture.
“We felt betrayed by their action. We feel that they are now coming for aggression and not for grazing.”
