BREAKING: 13 killed in separate incidents in Benue by Suspected Herdsmen

It was a black Sunday in Benue state as no fewer than 13 persons were killed and several others injured in separate crises that rocked two local government areas of the state .

Our correspondent gathered that while herdsmen launched a fresh attack in Kwande council area , a group of suspected cultists held sway in Otukpo local government.

Our correspondent gathered from locals in Kwande that some Fulani herdsmen in the early hours of Sunday invaded Tseadough , a village in Mbachom , Yaav Ward of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State , where they killed seven people.

The herdsmen were also said to have injured six others and taken a woman from the village captive and burnt down several houses in the area .

According to a local who spoke to our correspondent on the phone , “Suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded our village in the wee hours of today ( Sunday) while people were asleep , it was their gunshots that woke some of us .

“They shot continuously and entered peoples ’ houses, attacking them . I was able to escape by the grace of God.
“Some of us had to sleep in the bush . The report I got is that 10 people were killed while many others sustained varied degrees of injuries.”

The Chairman of Kwande LG , Terdoo Nyor Kenti , confirmed the attack on the village in the council area but said that seven people were confirmed dead .
According to him , “The armed militia invaded the village at about midnight while the people were asleep and opened fire and shot in all directions.

“Seven people were killed , six others were injured , while the herdsmen also went away with a woman after burning several houses in the area .”
It was gathered that the attack has left several villagers moving out of the area and surrounding villages for fear of another invasion by the attackers.

The council boss said that there was no problem or provocation between the villagers and the Fulani herdsmen that could have caused the attack and wondered why the attackers struck.
In Otukpo , a group of suspected cultists were said to have clashed, leaving six people dead.

Our correspondent gathered that the cult groups on Sunday morning took over the ancient town, brandishing guns and cutlasses.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that eight people were killed at different places within the town, but the council chairman confirmed six dead.

According to the eyewitness , “Two of the victims were killed at a popular drug ( marijuana ) joint known as Banana Island , while another victim who owns a barber ’ s shop at Akpa Street was shot outside his shop .”
The eyewitness added , “The fourth person was killed along Uloko Lane , while four others were killed at several locations.”

Confirming the report to our correspondent on the phone , chairman of the local government council, Mr . George Alli , said efforts were on to apprehend the suspects.

“We have confirmed the death of six persons this afternoon. I ’m still expecting a clearer picture about this because we are going to come with a special squad to go after them , ” Alli said.

Efforts to get the state Police Command to speak on the two incidents failed , as calls put to the mobile phone of the Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni ; and the command spokesman , ASP Moses Yamu , were neither picked nor returned.

Also, text messages sent to their phones were not replied as at the time of filing this report.

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BREAKING: 13 killed in separate incidents in Benue by Suspected Herdsmen