Gunmen have killed nine people in fresh attacks on a community in Benue state on Friday. The gunmen invaded Tse Ujoh community in Katsina Alla Local government area of the state and shot indiscriminately in the area; they then entered into peoples’ homes to kill them.
The state governor, Samuel Ortom condemned the killings through a statement by his spokesperson, Terver Akase and vowed to clamp down on militia in the state and bring an end to the incessant killings.
The Benue State governor further described the act as unacceptable, noting, however, that troops have been deployed to the affected areas to control the situation.
Governor Ortom also assured the people of Benue that decisive actions are being taken to prevent further attacks in the state while adding that three persons have been arrested in connection with the attack.
Ortom, therefore, encouraged residents to cooperate with security agencies and provide them with relevant information that can lead to the arrest of criminals in the state.
Benue state has been the epi-centre of violence for years with reports of Fulani herdsmen invading villages and farms and killing indigenes of Benue including women and children.
The violence also spilled into the neighbouring states of Adamawa and Plateau with hundreds killed and thousands more displaced.
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Benue indigenes have accused the federal government of neglecting the state and encouraging the killing. They affirm that the Police was not capable of providing adequate security and confronting the killer herdsmen because the herdsmen possess weapons more sophisticated than men of the Nigeria Police and they were better organised.
The federal government on its own part has tried to downplay the killings preferring to label it as a Farmers/Herders clash even though evidence points to genocide rather than a clash between two equal opponents.
The recent killings come after a short lull in the constant attacks on Benue state that has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands already this year.