Herdsmen Planning Fresh Attack, Benue Govt Raises Alarm

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has raised fresh alarm that herdsmen are planning to unleash fresh attacks in the state.

The governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said the herdsmen had sent a message to the people of Mbagwen community in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

Ortom said, “Herdsmen have sent a message to the people of Mbagwen community in Guma Local Government Area that they will attack in a matter of days. This was confirmed by the Council Chairman of Guma.

“Two days ago, herdsmen drove the people of Tse-Ado and the surrounding villages out of their homes after they killed two farmers at Angela community.

“The herdsmen had occupied communities in parts of Guma and Logo after chasing away members of those communities and killing many.

“The threats are coming on the heels of the return of some internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

“The question is; why are the attacks resuming at a time the harvest season is here? We suspect that the planned invasion is targeted at preventing the people from harvesting the few crops they were able to cultivate amid the mindless attacks which took place earlier in the year.”

While drawing the attention of the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, to the threat, the governor through his CPS called on the commander not to take the latest threat of the attack lightly.

He commended the Commander, officers, and men of Operation Whirl Stroke for the great job they had done to ensure the return of the IDPs to their communities and urged them to move swiftly to forestall the evil agenda of the armed herdsmen and their sponsors.