Advertisement

Advertisement

Breaking News

Army Officer, 14 Others, killed In Benue


Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia have again attacked another Benue community, Opaha in Edikwu Ward 2 of Apa Local government Area of Benue State, killing 15 persons including a military officer.

The slain soldier, it was gathered, was the commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, (OPWS), in that area.

Our correspondent gathered that the herders stormed the community around 4 pm on Tuesday and attacked the resident.

A native of the community who didn’t want to be named told newsmen in Makurdi that the attackers have sacked the village and everyone had fled for their dear lives.

“As am talking to you now, we don’t know the location of many people because everyone ran away as the people launched an attack on the village between 4 pm and 5 pm yesterday.”

Opaha village is home of the State Commissioner of Finance, Hon. David Olofu.

Speaking on the attack, the Finance Commissioner, David Olofu, described the attack as sad saying it was unprovoked and that over 15 people were killed including an army officer.

“Yes, they just went to my community and killed people unprovoked, over 15 people were killed including the commander of OPWS in that area.

“To the best of my knowledge, there was no issue. That place borders Gwer West LGA, and all the communities around that axis have been consistently attacked; one community after another.

“This is a peaceful community where the people don’t look for anybody’s trouble, the attackers went to the community around 4 pm. As am talking to you now, the whole community has been sacked.

He lamented that “Since the beginning of this year, there have been harvests of killings along that axis and the places are deserted. People cannot go to their farms, they cannot do anything. And then, they remain in their home and you come to their homes and kill 15 people in one day including the military personnel that is deployed there to secure the place.

“If the military can just be killed like that then what about the people, what else can we do if we deployed the military and they are killed who else are we going to send beyond the military,” he queried.

He noted that Opaha village is 10 kilometers to Umuogidi community where over 50 people were killed earlier this month saying the military has been deployed to the area to maintain law and order.

The Finance Commissioner who noted that the situation is beyond an individual, the community and the LG and state stated that the three tiers of government need to come together and have a policy on the issue, “that you cannot just come and kill somebody and get away with it and nothing happens to anybody.

“It is so sad that in the face of all these efforts to try to provide the little you can for the people, all these are happening. This is sad,” he said.

However, the Public Relations Officer of Operation Whirl Stroke, Flight Lt Flogh Oquoh when contacted on the phone told newsmen that the OPWS Commander had gone to the scene of the attack.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Benue State Command, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the report saying she does not have the details yet.

Recalled that this is the third time communities in Apa LGA would be attacked in the last three weeks.

Beginning with the Igbobi community where five people, last weekend also, suspected armed herdsmen militia killed four mourners in the Edikwu Council ward of Apa LGA including the ward chairman of the Labour Party, Nathaniel Ochoche.



Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? For Adverts or report call/WhatsApp us on +2349064433505 or reach us at infokwarareporters@gmail.com

No comments