In a new attack Monday on the settlements of Udei and Yelwata in the state's Guma Local Government Area, LGA, suspected armed herdsmen reportedly killed no less than 16 relatives of Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.
The most recent attack occurred around ten days after a similar one that left numerous people dead in Igama village, Edumoga Ehaje, Okpokwu LGA, and four days after marauders similarly killed and beheaded a lawmaker and his sibling in Orokam, Ogbadibo LGA of the state.
Read more: Tribal leaders and LG chiefs condemn 1,773 deaths in Benue caused by armed herders
According to reports, the Udai and Yelwata assault victims were timber traders who were ambushed by the attackers at around 7 o'clock in the evening while operating their enterprises in the jungle.
The incidence was confirmed by Mr. Caleb, Chairman of the Guma LGA, who also said that five of the dead had already been found and that 11 more were still missing.
The chairman stated that "those killed were wood dealers who went to the bush on Monday evening to gather the timber they had cut from the forest in Mbagwen.
"They encountered the armed herders who attacked and killed them as they were emerging from the forest. There were 16 of them. Out of the 16 people that were attacked, five corpses have been found thus far.
The chairman stated he had previously reported the incident to the police and that the attack was unjustified and unprovoked.
Police Public Relations Officer Catherine Anene responded that she had not yet received information about the incident.
Source: vanguard news
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