10 killed in Benue communities

At least 10 people have been reportedly killed in attacks on four villages in Ikobi Council Ward, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State. The villagers said the latest attacks occurred simultaneously within three days after the initial invasion of Imana community where four persons were killed last week. One of the villagers, who has […]

At least 10 people have been reportedly killed in attacks on four villages in Ikobi Council Ward, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.

The villagers said the latest attacks occurred simultaneously within three days after the initial invasion of Imana community where four persons were killed last week.

One of the villagers, who has been displaced as a result of the incident, told our correspondent on the telephone that nine bodies were recovered from the affected communities as of the time he fled to the Apa LGA headquarters in Ugbokpo.

He said, “Nine persons were killed three days after the attack on Ibele, Ochumekwu and Ijaha by armed herders. It has been sustained attacks on our people for the past two weeks.

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“They have been terrorising us and as I speak to you in Ikobi, there is nobody and Ikobi has a population of over one million people. All the people have run away, taking shelter at Ugbokpo, the LGA headquarter.”

Barrister Eche Akpoko, who is the Chairman of the Apa Development Association, a sociocultural umbrella body of the Apa people, confirmed the attacks to our correspondent, saying one more corpse was discovered after the nine found earlier.

He said five people were killed in Ijaha-Ibele, three in Ochumekwu while the remaining two were killed in Adija and Kano villages respectively.

“I confirm to you that there was a serial attack on the following communities: Ijaha- Ibele 5 Ochumekwu 3, Adija 1 and Kano1 all of Apa LGA on 14th, 15th & 16th of February, 2024 respectively with a total number of ten casualties ascertained so far! We condemn the dastardly act in strong terms,” Akpoko said.

The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, however, said she did not have the report.