Plea for Assistance Emerges as Armed Herdsmen Slay Numerous Residents in Benue State Community
Numerous individuals have reportedly been slain by suspected armed pastoralists in Ugbobi village within the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, following a coordinated assault on the settlement.
The onslaught, ascertained to have commenced on Wednesday, persisted until the early hours of Thursday.
As per a spokesperson of the community, Eric Amodu, the looming threat of the attack had loitered for over a week before escalating into a violent rampage last night.
Amodu lamented, “We have harbored a persistent dread and apprehension of an impending assault by suspected pastoralists, given their increasing presence in and around the community. However, the violent onslaught commenced last night, resulting in significant casualties among our populace, with many fleeing the village.”
“Just as our residents attempted to assess the extent of the damage to the community, a second wave of attacks by the armed pastoralists ensued. As of now, attempts to reach out to individuals for their safety and whereabouts have been futile,” Amodu added.
“We implore urgent assistance from security forces and governmental authorities at all levels before our community is completely devastated,” he urged.
Upon reaching out regarding the recent killings in the local government area, the police spokesperson, Sewuese Anene, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, had visited Apa last week to ensure the deployment of adequate troops. However, the police office has yet to receive information regarding the latest attack.
Rural communities in Benue State have witnessed a surge in insecurity over the past few years due to incessant attacks by herdsmen. This trend has led to the displacement of indigenous inhabitants from their ancestral lands and agricultural fields.
