June 14, (THEWILL) – The chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Council in Benue state, Mrs Amina Audu, has confirmed the killing of fifteen persons in the area on Sunday, by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In a telephone chat with newsmen on Monday, the council boss said, over one thousand residents have been displaced from their ancestral homes, some of which are taking refuge at Utonkon, Ojabo and other communities at the moment.
Mrs Audu, who said she was in company of senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South senatorial district, on the spot assessment of the situation, also explained that houses and other economic businesses have been set ablaze by the invaders.
According to her, some of the fleeing residents are camping at the ward headquarters at Ifeche, in an attack she described as unprovoked in recent times, even as several victims are receiving treatment at various medical clinincs.
The council chairman noted with dismay that the herdsmen always invade some communities in the peak of farming season, saying security agents have been put on notice about the incident, while bodies of victims have been evacuated to the morgue.
When contacted on telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State Command, Superintendent of Police, Sewuese Anene, said she was not in a place to answer calls, but would reply later.
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