Sixteen people including, a herdsman were on Monday, March 5, reportedly killed in a fresh clash at Omutu community in Okpokwu local government area of Benue state.
According to a statement by the Benue State Police Command spokesman, ASP Moses Yamu, the victims were mostly women and children.
Yamu in a statement made available to Punch on Tuesday, March 6, said that the attack was a reprisal after some youths in the community went berserk and attacked herdsmen and killed some cows.
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The statement read: “We received information from the security adviser of Okpokwu local government that some irate youths from Omutu engaged some herdsmen in a fight, maiming some cows while two herdsmen were missing.
“A peace meeting was immediately convened by the council chairman and the head of Fulani community in the area while a police search party went in search of the two missing herdsmen, one of whom was found dead.”
“Unfortunately, as the search and peace meeting were ongoing, some herdsmen went on a rampage, hacking 15 persons – mostly women and children, to death while some houses were set ablaze."
The police spokesman said four suspects had been arrested in connection with the killings, adding that ‘extensive’ patrol of the community was ongoing and to be reinforced by special forces.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that no fewer than five persons were feared dead on Sunday, March 4, in a fresh attack on Umenge village in Guma local government area of Benue state by suspected herdsmen despite claims by security agencies that peace has returned to the state.
Note that Exercise Ayem Akpatuma (cat race), a Nigerian military spike operation, to stem the incursions of the herders is also ongoing in the state.
Vanguard reported that the victims who had successfully escaped alive early January when the community was attacked by herdsmen, met their death on Sunday, March 4, when they went back to assess the safety of their community in order to return back to their homes.
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Source: Naija.ng