Following a concerted attack on the Ugbobi town in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected herders, many people are believed to have been slain.
The attack began on Wednesday and continued until the early hours of Thursday.
Eric Amodu, a community leader, told the media that the threat of an attack on the community had been circulating for more than a week before the violent attack began last night.
He stated, “We have been living in fear and concern about probable attacks by suspected herdsmen due to their inflow into the community and its surroundings. However, the savage onslaught began last night, with numerous individuals slain and more fleeing the village.
“Just as they (residents) went to inspect what was remained of the community, the second round of attack by the armed herders began, and as I speak, all of the people I’ve been phoning to find out where they are aren’t returning my calls.
“We urgently need help from security operatives and the government at all levels before we are all consumed.”
When contacted about the renewed killings in the local government area, police spokesperson Sewuese Anene stated that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, visited Apa last week to ensure adequate troop deployment, but that her office had yet to receive information on the latest attack.
Benue rural areas have grown perilous for farmers and villagers alike in recent years as a result of recurrent herdsmen attacks, which have become commonplace throughout the state, displacing native people from their ancestral homes and farmlands.