In a report by the Vanguard, a ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) together with 12 others have been killed.
They died as a result of an invasion in the Itakpa community located at the Obi Local Government Area, a LGA of Benue State by suspected armed herdsmen.
However, only two dead bodies were recovered from the attack according to the Benue state Police Command.
According to the report, thousands have also been displaced and it includes women and children who had to seek refuge elsewhere in order to escape death.
Confirming the attack is an eyewitness who stated that the suspected herdsmen numbering eight, armed with AK47 rifles stormed the area about 9 pm and began shooting as they killed people and left others injured.
“Among the 13 bodies found were two women in their 30s,” he said.
Also, the Caretaker Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. Joseph Ikpeyi also confirmed these attacks indicating that the attackers stormed the community at about 9 pm, started shooting and killing anything they saw.
In his submission, he said;
“After killing their victims, the gunmen took away all the cattle kept in the ranch of the lawmaker representing Obi in the state assembly.
About 3,000 persons have been displaced by the attack and are currently taking refuge at the LGEA Primary School Obarike Ito. The police have however mobilized their personnel to the area.”
A Chief in the area, His Royal Highness, Oga Ero, also confirmed the incident saying;
“But the latest attack was on Sunday when they attacked Itakpa at about 9.00 pm when the people were already in their home relaxing. They shot and killed 13 persons, many people were wounded and currently receiving treatment at General Hospital, Obarike Ito, headquarters of Obi local government.”
Also, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident saying;
“When we got to the area, only two corpses were found by somebody’s farm, we searched and searched the whole area and found nothing again. So the Commissioner of Police went back to the community and asked where the people they killed were? The villagers claimed that in their culture, they don’t show corpses to the police, so, we cannot confirm what we did not see.”
Source: ghgossip.com