Herdsmen kill 17 in Benue communities
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Anyiin the home town of the the former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam was on Wednesday night attacked by heavily armed herdsmen leaving 15 persons dead.
The herdsmen unleashed terror on Anyiin town, Logo LGA of Benue State in an operation that started about 6:32 pm, killing residents of the town and leaving some with various degrees of injuries while others were reportedly missing.
Similarly, the trigger ready herdsmen attacked Ayilamo town within the same time killing two persons and mercilessly butchering two women, who were receiving treatment.
Hon Peter Mbanyi, who spoke with NATIONAL ACCORD noted that the herdsmen came and attacked their victims when they were least expected
In his comment, an opinion leader from Anyiin and publisher of National Times Newspapers, Chief Joseph Anawah informed that among the murdered were Orihundu Ati a retired Primary School Supervisor and the son of the kindred head of Mbawuave, Zaki Mbatern as well as the son of Tordoo Suswam a erstwhile Chief of Staff to a former Logo LGC Chairman and the son of Mr Uyange Chembe younger brother to late district head of Ukemberagya, Zaki John Chembe.
Chief Anawah revealed that the attackers were numbering over 200 and were heavily armed with dangerous weapons such as AK47 among other sophisticated guns as they raided the town in an operation that lasted about 3 hours.
The publisher, who described the attack as a co-ordinated operation, stated that “the terrorists took residents unawares, surrounded the town and shot sporadically in the air as people scampered for safety as they ran into their well orchestrated ambush. “
According to him “Anyiin town the headquarters of Gaambe-Tiev is heavily populated with people of Gaambe-Tiev and have always been attacked by the same Fulani herdsmen with terrorism activities in the area over the years.
“Displaced communities of Ukemberagya, Tswarev, Mbawar, Gov, Mbainange, and Tombo among others are taking refuge in Anyiin town. The security operatives stationed in the town were over whelmed because of the invaders’ large number.
He called on the Federal and State Governments should collaborate and revisit the abandoned Mobile Police Barracks project near Anyiin along Akwana-Anyiin-Wukari road inorder to provide maximum security in the flash point.
Anawah appealed to the representatives of the affected communities at state and national levels to rise to the occasion and beef up security in Gaambe-Tiev communities so that farmers can go to their farms during this harvesting season.
“The people of Gaambe-Tiev are located on the border of Benue and Taraba states. This location has exposed them to incessant attacks by Fulani marauders. This is the second attack in one month by the Fulani terrorists.
“On October 9, 2024 Fulani militia attacked Ayilamo town the headquarters of Tombo Council Ward and killed scores of people.
In the meantime the people are deserting Anyiin town for fear of the unknown.
In the course of filing this report, NATIONAL ACCORD correspondent was reliably informed that Ayilamo town was again under attack by the blood thirsty herdsmen.