No fewer than 13 persons have been killed in fresh attacks in four villages in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, and Ukemberagya community, Gaambe-Tiev council ward of Logo local government area of Benue State.
While 10 were killed by bandits in Birnin Gwari communities on Tuesday, three others were slaughtered in Benue by herdsmen Thursday.
In the Birnin Gwari incident, which came less than three days after Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff, gave his men a three-week ultimatum to flush out bandits from the area, the bandits overran Mashigi, Dakwaro, Sabon gida, and another village killing at least ten people, according to a resident of the area.
“Ten bodies of people killed were recovered, while many are unaccounted for,” Malam Umar, a resident, was quoted as saying in a statement by a group, Birnin Gwari Vanguards for Security and Good Governance.
The armed bandits attacked the villages around 5 p.m, with the attacking lasting for about three and half hours.
Also, the armed bandits burnt houses and grains stock of the affected villages, while several other persons were injured.
Confirming the attack Kaduna State police spokesman, Mukhtar Aliyu, said: “Yes I can confirm to you that there was an attack in Birnin Gwari, but it is sketchy for now. We will brief you when we get full details.”
It was learnt that volunteers from the southern axis of Birnin-Gwari and security officials were mobilised to ascertain the number of casualties, as the affected villages are said to be in need of aid such as food, shelter and clothes.
Scores of people, including soldiers, have been killed in Birnin-Gwari in the past few months in repeated attacks by armed bandits. Dozens of others have also been kidnapped for ransom in the local government.
In the Benue attack, three persons were feared dead, while scores sustained serious injuries early yesterday when gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked Ukemberagya community, Gaambe-Tiev council ward of Logo local government area.
The attackers also set ablaze several houses, huts and food barns in five villages in the affected community.
The latest attack came barely 24 hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited the local government area to commiserate with victims of herdsmen attack in the area who now reside in IDPs camp at Anyiiin.
Already, the Senate had directed the Chief of Army, Director-General of Directorate of State Security (DSS) and Inspector-General of Police to appear before it next week Wednesday in connection with the killings in Birnin Gwari.
Vanguard gathered from a source in one of the affected communities that the armed herdsmen stormed the council ward at about 6.30 a.m. shooting sporadically and razing the besieged villages.
“They came around 6.30 this morning, shooting and razing our homes, farmlands and food barns at Tse-Mue, Torkaa, Mgbakpa, Torjem and Ifer villages. The operation lasted till about 9 a.m. when they pulled out in their usual hit and run style.
“It was after the attackers had left that we managed to enter the village and our farms to search for our loved ones who were missing. As at the moment, we have recovered the corpses of three persons including those of Bem Torjem, Apedzan Chia and Akpuku Koya which have been deposited at the mortuary in Anyiin. The injured are also receiving treatment in the hospital and clinics in the area.
“The incident happened at a time when farmers were on their way to the farms. As we speak there is palpable fear in neigbouring communities because the affected villages have been deserted as people are fleeing in droves to seek safety in those villages.
“We are still searching the bushes because many others are still missing and unaccounted for especially our children and women so casualty figure may increase but we pray it doesn’t.
Another eyewitness, told Vanguard that those killed in the attack were returnees from the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs camp at Anyiin who were sacked from their homes in January.
“They just returned from the IDPs camp at Anyiin to try and gather themselves and their families to find their footings since security personnel had given assurances of the safety of the communities.
“Unfortunately, after running away from their ancestral homes for over four months, some of them have fallen victim to the murderous armed herdsmen,” said an eyewitness who preferred anonymity.
When contacted, Mr. Richard Nyajo, Logo local government council chairman, who confirmed the attack, said the matter had been reported to the Police, the Adviser to the Governor on Security and the state governor.
“The attack took place this morning just when the people were moving to their farms. So far three bodies have been recovered from the attacked villages and the search for several missing persons is still ongoing,” Nyajo said.
At the time of filing this report, Governor Samuel Ortom was holding a crucial security meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.
Meanwhile, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, Benue State Commissioner of Police, who was part of the security meeting, confirmed the attack.
Owoseni while briefing reporters said: “While I was at the security council meeting which we just finished, I received reports of the attack by suspected herdsmen which left three persons dead. Already, we have drafted our Rapid Response Squad to the area to check further attacks in the area.”
