An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Johnson Akaabo, and six others have been killed in separate attacks by armed herdsmen in Gwer East and Makurdi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State.
Sources revealed that the APC stalwart and three others were brutally murdered on Tuesday evening when armed herdsmen stormed Mbatsada communities in Mbalom and Mbasombo Council Wards in Gwer East LGA, launching a surprise attack around 4:30 p.m.
A local source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The armed herdsmen invaded the communities at about 4:30 pm on Tuesday and started shooting sporadically, resulting in the death of Mr. Johnson Akaabo, a stalwart of the APC and three other persons.”
Confirming the attack, the Chairman of Gwer East LGA, Timothy Adi, described the incident as tragic, expressing shock that the attackers struck just as local farmers had resumed their activities.
He said, “We visited the affected communities with military personnel and four bodies were recovered from the scene of the attacks. The corpses were evacuated and deposited at the St. Gregory Hospital mortuary.”
Adi also disclosed that military personnel had been deployed to the area to prevent further violence, praising Governor Hyacinth Alia for his swift response.
“I want to also thank the Nigerian Army and other security personnel who were on ground during the incident for their efforts in restoring calm,” he said.
Meanwhile, three more lives were claimed in a separate attack on Tse Gever Nasemy in Makurdi LGA on Wednesday evening.
Community sources reported that the gunmen struck around 6 p.m., shooting sporadically before vanishing into the surrounding countryside.
One resident said, “The killer herdsmen disappeared into thin air after the unprovoked attack which left three persons dead. The attack has forced the people to flee their homes. The community is deserted, and the fear is that it would worsen the humanitarian situation in this part of the state.”
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Catherine Anene, for comment were unsuccessful.
