By Henry Iyorkase
Renewed attacks yesterday claimed the lives of eight persons including a woman with her two children by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Yelewata , in Guma local Government Area of Benue State .
Orient Daily checks revealed that the incident occured at about 6:00p.m when the violent herders invaded the settlements and were said to be shooting sporadically resulting in several loss of lives while others were still missing as at the time of filing this report.
An eyewitness disclosed that the inhabitants had expressed shock to have witnessed the calamity, saying there were no prior disputes between the community and herders to warrant such heinous acts, expressing anger by the spate of killings and fragile security situation in the State.
When contacted, Chairman of Guma local Government Council, Hon. Caleb Abba confirmed the development, lamenting that eight persons were reportedly killed , while two others who sustained injuries and were evacuated and taken to undisclosed hospital, one other abducted to unknown destination.
According to him, “yesterday (Tuesday) was Yelewata market. So people were busy carrying out their transactions when the attackers stormed the place and opened fire on innocent people unprovoked resulting to death of many locals”.
The Council boss further denounced any disagreement between herders involving the community, adding that at no time did anyone bring any such complaints to his attention.
In her response, the Benue State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO DSP Sewuese Annene, while confirming the incident gave six as the figure of the victims killed in this latest attack.
According to the Police image-maker, “at about 7:45 p.m the command received information that unknown gunmen had attacked Yelewata Community along Nassarawa- Benue border and killed six persons and injured others
” When we received the information, our men were quickly dispatched to the scene of the incident and they repelled the attackers, the first house they entered began to rain with bullets, killing the victims. That was where six corpses were recovered. However the gunmen went and regrouped in a nearby forest to launch further attacks when our men repelled “, Anene said.