Less than two months after over 200 people were killed in Yelewata, Benue State, the community has once again come under attack, as unidentified gunmen opened fire on farmers yesterday morning.
Three bodies were recovered from the farms following the incident.
Residents identified the victims as Mr. Igyo Anya, Peter Shinku, and Yooga Udegi.
Yesterday’s attack sparked protests in the community. Women, waving fresh leaves, barricaded the Makurdi-Lafia highway, chanting dirges, and demanding that soldiers leave Yelewata for the barracks, and allow them to defend themselves.
A survivor, Tilenenge, said they were on their farms when the assailants pounced on them, firing sporadically.
He stated that while some of them were lucky to escape, several were still missing.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, DSP Udeme Edet, said that although she is aware that the Commissioner of Police, Dr. Emenari Innocent, had visited Yelewata, she was yet to be officially briefed.
But the Director-General of Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (rtd), confirmed the attack, adding that he could not give details due to the rowdiness of the situation.
The DG was in Yelewata with the CP to persuade the protesters to vacate the highway.
BESIDES, the military has neutralised more than 100 terrorists during coordinated airstrikes followed by ground assault and clearances in Makakkari Forest of Bukuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The development occurred in the early hours of Sunday when the thunder of military aircraft and the relentless advance of ground troops signalled the beginning of an operation that would leave over 100 bandits dead, their motorcycles smouldering, and their stronghold in ruins.
A security expert, Zagazola Makama, reported for weeks that intelligence operatives of Operation “FANSAN YAMMA” (OPFY) had tracked unusual movements across the Sunke, Kirsa, and Barukushe axis, which are well-known bandits’ havens.
According to him, reports indicated that more than 400 armed fighters, led by some of the region’s most feared kingpins, were massing in Makakkari Forest, targeting Nasarawan Burkullu, a farming community in the Bukuyum council area.
