Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly attacked Abaushwa community in Nzorov Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the hometown of former Governor Samuel Ortom, killing four people and leaving several others injured.
The attackers were said to have invaded the community around midnight on Monday while residents were asleep, breaking into homes and attacking victims.
A community source disclosed that the assailants struck without any provocation, forcing open doors before killing residents inside their houses.
“Three persons were killed during the attack, while several others sustained injuries. The injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Gbajimba, but one of them later died, bringing the death toll to four,” the source said.
The source added that several residents were still missing as search efforts continued.
Reacting to the attack, former Executive Secretary of the Benue State Teaching Service Board (TSB), Dr. Frank Kyungun, who visited the community alongside former Governor Samuel Ortom and other prominent indigenes, described the assault as barbaric and unprovoked.
“It was an unprovoked attack by armed herdsmen. They came at about midnight and launched a heavy assault on the community. They killed four people and left several others injured. Those wounded have been taken to the General Hospital in Gbajimba,” Kyungun said.
He noted that the delegation urged residents to remain calm and allow security agencies to carry out investigations.
Kyungun lamented that despite efforts by the community to avoid clashes with herders, innocent residents were still targeted.
“Our people resolved long ago to stop eating beef, and it is not even sold in our markets because we wanted to avoid any conflict. Even when our farmlands are destroyed by grazing cattle, our people have continued to exercise restraint.
“We cannot understand why innocent people should be killed without any provocation. It is a sad and painful development,” he added.
The Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Morris Orwough, also condemned the attack, describing it as heartbreaking and unacceptable.
In a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Communication and Strategy, Ernest Tortiv, Orwough sympathised with the bereaved families, prayed for the recovery of those injured, and disclosed that security personnel had been deployed to Abaushwa to restore peace and prevent further attacks.
He urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies, and provide useful information that could help tackle insecurity in the area.
Confirming the incident, the Benue State Police Command said four persons lost their lives in the attack.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondona, said the victims were killed by suspected bandits.
“I can confirm that there was an attack in Guma LGA in which four persons were killed by suspected bandits. Investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice,” he said.
