How Armed Herdsmen attacked Governor Ortom of Benue, 13 others killed

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Monday revealed that some Fulani herdsmen who invaded his farm in Makurdi shot at him and some livestock guards.

Ortom who stated this on a program, “issue of the moment”  he featured in on the state radio aka Radio Benue said he had to invite troops of Operations Whirl Stroke before the marauding herdsmen left.

The governor who decried the influx of Fulani herdsmen into the state said that they were armed with sophisticated weapons.

“I was on my farm within Makurdi town last week when some herdsmen shot at me and shot the livestock guards who were on the farm.

“I have to inform the Operation Whirl Stroke before the herdsmen ran away.

The governor expressed deep concern that the herdsmen carry more sophisticated weapons than the security men.

“Many of these herdsmen carry AK47 and even AK49, you know that the latter is superior to the former and this is what some of the herdsmen are carrying.

Meanwhile, barely two weeks after suspected Fulani herdsmen killed 12 people in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State,  no fewer than 13 persons were on Monday confirmed killed in fresh attack by gunmen in the Bokos Local Government Area of the state.

Some villagers told our correspondent in Jos on Monday that the latest attack which took place in Kwatas community on Sunday night also left others injured.

A villager, who identified himself as Mr Benjamin Dogo, said, “Our people have been killed again. About 13 of the victims have been evacuated to the mortuary along with many others that sustained injuries during the attack last night.

“The people really need help because it is surprising that while the youths are still protesting the abduction and killings of their kinsmen by Boko Haram and calling on the government to intervene, more killings are being perpetrated in the state as if human lives have no meaning again.”

The new Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Ubah Ogaba, said the command had deployed some men in the community to ascertain the situation of things.

He said, “Yes, it is true. We got information that there was an attack in one of the communities in Bokkos but our men are heading to the place to know what has happened. I will get back to you when we are done.”

The police spokesman, who later issued a statement on the killings, said, “On Sunday at about 2030hrs, the Plateau State Command received information that at about 1930hours, unknown gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, attacked Kwatas village in the Bokkos LGA of Plateau State where 13 persons lost their lives while five persons were critically injured and receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Bokkos.”

Meanwhile, Governor Simon Lalong in a statement on Monday by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, described the attack as yet another attempt by criminals to take the state back to the dark days of insecurity.