Armed herdsmen terrorists yesterday made an incursion into ‘Channel One’, a border settlement in Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of Logo local government area of Benue State leaving six farmers dead and seven others severely injured.
The scene of the deadly attack is located along Arufu-Wukari road in neighbouring Taraba State.
The arsonists who storm the area at about 13:00 hours, sacked the villages, with scores of local inhabitants including women and children fleeing their ancestral homes to other areas deemed safe.
A community leader in Logo LGA, Chief Joseph Anawa, who confirmed the incident, named those killed to include: Mr. Akor Gwakyaa, Mr. Msooter Gwakyaa, Aondoungwa Michael, Vershima Michael, Terna Michael and Msughter Terzungwe among others.
Chief Anawa disclosed that “some people whose names are not immediately mentioned, sustained life-threatening injuries and have been hospitalized at different medical facilities in Anyiin town, headquarters of the local government.
“Those in critical health condition, numbering about seven (7), have been taken to Ugba town, Logo LGA for medical treatment”.
Witnesses said the marauding Fulani attackers came in large numbers, armed with firearms, and were on motorcycles.
It was alleged that the marauders are those camped at Shaor, one of the deserted villages that several intelligence reports have identified as a Fulani marauders’ camp in Logo LGA.
New Telegraph also reported that residents of the area under attack and neighboring communities are relocating to other villages for fear of further attacks.
Chief Anawa stressed the need for the government to intensify border coordinated clearance operations to dislodge the suspected marauders camped at Shaor and other deserted villages identified in previous intelligence reports, as one of the requisite measures to stem further attacks.
He said, “There is also the need for joint inter-state security task forces with Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States to monitor cross-border movements of suspected Fulani mercenaries and, possibly, block all routes used by attackers to attack border communities in Logo LGA”.
He maintained that “given the recurrence of attacks traced to camps in deserted villages and the cross-border nature of the threat, urgent and sustained action is needed to secure volatile council wards in Logo LGA to restore confidence among residents.
