No fewer than forty-six persons, including the 33-year-old son of Otukpo Local Government Area Chairman Bako Eje, have been killed by suspected herdsmen who invaded Umogidi village in Entekpa-Adoka district in Otukpo Local Government Council in Benue State.
The killing comes barely 24 hours after the same village, an Idoma-speaking community, suffered an attack by suspected herdsmen, in which three people were killed.
An eyewitness from the affected village, Joseph Adakole, says the people of the community were burying the three people earlier killed when the attackers suddenly came back with more firepower to massacre scores of mourners.
He explained that the suspected herdsmen attacked the village around 4 p.m. on Wednesday and started shooting at the mourners from all corners.
One of those who lost loved ones and the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Eje, whose son was also killed in the attack, told Channels Television that the armed herdsmen surrounded the village again on Wednesday evening and opened gunfire on the inhabitants.
Eje, who hails from the Umogidi community, confirmed that forty-six corpses had already been recovered, while many people are still missing.
“The armed herdsmen, after attacking our community in the morning (Wednesday), came back to the village at about 4:15 p.m. and killed 46 persons, including my own son, who was about 33 years old,” he said.
“We just buried the corpse, and several other persons are still missing; we do not know their whereabouts, but I am still in the village.”
“They also killed the husband of my immediate younger sister and her son of almost 38 years.”
The figure may rise
The Special Adviser to the Benue Governor on Security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba, also confirmed the attack.
“I can confirm to you that there was an attack in Umogidi, and as of this morning (Thursday), the causality figure from those who were seen physically from what I was told was 46.
“But the figure may rise higher because some people are still reported missing.”
“Police have been deployed, and soldiers have been sent there to assist. The situation is now calm.
“The local government chairman is from that community, and unfortunately, he too lost his 33-year-old son.”
“It’s a very tragic and painful incident,” he added.
We can’t identify them
State Secretary of the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Ibrahim Galma, denied knowing those perpetrating the attacks on the villagers.
“Truly, the herders’ who are there are not cooperating with us.” We don’t even know where they are coming from.
Instead of us using the leadership of those who are coming from Nasarawa along those Doma and riverine areas, everybody claimed they didn’t know those herders.
I can’t identify where they are coming from, and it would be too difficult for me to say something I don’t know anything about.
“The people we can’t identify, we have no control over them.” Security is responsible for conducting surveillance to identify those people who are there and what is happening there.
Since February, we have been hearing about things around Adoka, Apa, and the Agatu side, but we can’t identify where they are coming from.
“It’s very difficult for us to call them to order because we don’t know who they are,” Galma added.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue Command, Catherine Anene, also spoke about the attack on the community.
“Attack on the Umogidi community confirmed.” Eight corpses were recovered, including a police officer.
“More police teams have been deployed to the area to forestall further breakdowns of law and order,” Anene said.
