Five Killed in Benue in Fresh Herdsmen Attacks

More gruesome murders were recorded Wednesday when suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror on residents of Guma, Logo and Okpokwu Local Government Areas in Benue State, killing five persons in the process.

This is just as four female suicide bombers in Maiduguri, Borno State, detonated their bombs Wednesday, leading to the deaths of 12 persons and 65 others sustained

In the Benue incident, eyewitnesses said that there was an attack on Okpokwu Local Government Area following a disagreement between headsmen and farmers which led to the death of one person.

The state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, also confirmed the fresh killings in Guma and Logo where two persons, he said, were killed in each of the councils.

Ortom disclosed this Wednesday when he received members of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum at the Government House, Makurdi, the state capital.

The group had paid him a condolence visit at the Government House to commiserate with him over the killing of 73 persons by suspected herdsmen on new year day.

Ortom revealed that two women were killed in Guma and two other persons in Logo.

He stated that despite the presence of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris and 663 armed riot policemen deployed in the state, killings were still being perpetrated without any arrest.

The governor reiterated his call on the security agencies to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore whom he said were still issuing threats to resist the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in the state.

In addition to the Benue killings, another 12 person were killed Wednesday when a suicide bomb exploded around Muna Garage area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, officials said.

The explosion occurred at about 5:05 p.m., Abdulkadir Ibrahim, a spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said in a statement.

“Emergency Response Team (ERT) from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA) and the Red Cross have responded to a suicide bombing incident which occurred around Muna Garage along Mafa Dikwa road in Maiduguri, Borno State.

“The team has responded to 65 injured people who were given first aid and transported to hospitals while 10 others lost their lives.
“Preliminary reports indicate that four female suicide bombers were responsible for the blast,” Ibrahim said.
The police in Borno, however, said at least 12 persons were killed and 48 others injured in the attack.

The police also gave a different narrative on the bombings.

The Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu, said a male suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at a crowded market killing himself and 10 other persons.

“One other suicide bomber out of panic detonated an explosive and blew himself alone into pieces,” he said.
Wednesday’s attack was the first suicide bomb attack in Maiduguri this year.

Chukwu said the wounded persons were evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The police commissioner called on the people to be vigilant and report suspicious persons in their communities to the security agencies.

“People should be vigilant because Boko Haram insurgents have not surrendered,” he warned.