#BenueUnderAttack: ‘Herdsmen Are Killing Us And Occupying Our Villages’

A spate of attacks on different Benue State communities is said to have resulted in more than 100 deaths and displacement of over 600 residents.

The communities, including Kwaghaondo and Shikaan, amongst others, have witnessed a series of attacks by alleged Fulani herdsmen in the last one week.

A relative of the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area Chairman, Alfred Atera, told THE WHISTLER on Friday that the latest attack occurred in the early hours of today in Kwaghaondo village and resulted in the deaths of 13 people.

The relative, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said an earlier attack in Shikaan village on Wednesday claimed the lives of 36 residents.

The source said alleged Fulani herdsmen on reprisal attacks invade villages, kill people on sight, and take over their lands.

He said the community where the fresh attack took place is a few kilometers away from the council headquarters.

“13 people were killed in Kwaghaondo village and over 600 people were sacked, so the place now is occupied by Fulani herders. They have now moved towards Katsina-Ala Local Government Area in Benue State,” said the source.

“This happened a day before yesterday (Wednesday) but yesterday 36 again were killed in Shikaan village, very close to the council headquarters, in the early hours of today (Friday).”

As of the time of filing this report, #BenueUnderAttack is trending at number on Twitter. Pictures of some of the people allegedly killed by the assailants are being shared on the microblogging platform

Earlier reports quoted the chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA as saying on Saturday that alleged herdsmen killed no fewer than 100 people in coordinated attacks on Yoyo, Utang, Mbatyu/Mberev and Mbayongo wards of the state.

But the source told this website that the deaths were collated from different attacks at different locations in the last one week.

“That 100 people they are talking about is not in one location and not in one day. It spreads through different wards, so that is what makes the one hundred.

The police spokesperson in Benue, Catherine Sewuese Anene, did not respond to several calls put across to her phone by our correspondent.