Suspected armed herdsmen have killed eight people including two children in two separate attacks on communities in Gwer West Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State.
NigeriaCrime.com learned that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Gwer West Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State, Mr Mamud Abubakar, two other policemen, two children and three women were among those killed during the attacks.
It was learned that the murdered DPO and the two other police personnel were ambushed and killed Tuesday afternoon on Makurdi-Naka road shortly after alerting the military personnel at a checkpoint on the road of the presence of a large number of armed herdsmen on the axis and their intention to attack the communities in Gwer West.
According to a source, from Naka, the Gwer West Headquarters who spoke on condition of anonymity “said after alerting the military personnel of the presence of a large number of armed herdsmen on that stretch of road, the military personnel were mobilising to move into the area while the DPO who was accompanied by two other policemen moved ahead slowly.
“But unknown to them, the armed herders had already moved close to a particular spot at Imande community near a bridge where women sell roasted yam to travellers on the road. They shot and killed the three of them and a farmer who was at the time returning from the farm.
“As we speak the people on that axis have all deserted their homes. Though before now many had packed away from their ancestral homes when it was noticed that armed herdsmen were moving in droves into communities on that axis.”
Meanwhile, the attack on Makurdi-Naka road came after a similar attack on Udei and Torkula villages in Guma LGA claimed the lives of two children and three women.
It was gathered that the two children aged between 10 and 13 were murdered by the marauders who stormed Udei at about 9 pm on Monday while the three women were killed by the marauders in Torkula village at about the same time.
“They came shooting sporadically in Udei village around 9 pm; the people scampered but unfortunately two children were gunned down by the terrorists.
“While that attack was going on, another group almost simultaneously invaded Torkula village where three women were also murdered. As I speak to you there is tension in Guma and people in neighbouring villages are gearing up for any eventuality.”
Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene who confirmed the attack and murder of the DPO in Gwer West LGA said she was yet to receive full details of the incident.