Rise up and defend yourselves, Ortom tells Benue people as herders kill scores in fresh attacks

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom as urged residents of the state to pick up arms to defend themselves from the incessant invasion and killing of Benue people by herdsmen.

The Governor gave the charge on Wednesday while expressing grief over the recent multiple attacks on Guma, Kwande and Gwer West local government areas of the state on Tuesday, March 29th, 2022, where several people were hacked to death.

The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, said “a report from the team leader of security agencies in Kasekyo near Tse Torkula village in Guma local government said that suspected Fulani herders at about 0930 hours on Tuesday, March 29th, 2022 shot one Turner Ajar and an unidentified elderly man who were on a motorcycle going to the farm.”

Ortom said in Kpankeeke, a suburb on the outskirts of Naka, headquarters of Gwer West local government, gory images of persons killed by another set of herdsmen littered the streets.

He said the security patrol team found the body of “one Ahemba Apeelu, an aged man at a sawmill from Saav/Ukusu council Ward who was slaughtered and his throat slit.”

Others identified to have been killed by the invaders include Tersoo Yasough and that of a young lady known as Martha Ukange.

He said the corpses have been deposited at a hospital in Gbajimba, Guma local government area of the state.

He added that “the search for more persons who are said to be missing is ongoing in affected communities.”