Again, herdsmen kill five in Benue

• John Charles, Makurdi
• Again, Fulani herdsmen late Sunday invaded Michia settlement in Gaambe-Tiev of Logo Local Government Area of Benue state, killed five people and wounded several others.
• According to a community leader in the council area, Joseph Anawah, the attackers invaded the community between 11.30 pm and 11.55pm Sunday night.
• “The attack, which was carried out swiftly in a professional manner, has so far claimed five lives, with many wounded.
• “The locals were attacked between 11:30 pm and 11:55 pm on Sunday. Mchia is a few kilometers from Anyiin town.
• “Soldiers arrived the scene after the operation has been executed. Corpses of the murdered have been moved to Anyiin mortuary,” the community leader said.
• Chairman of the local government area, Richard Nyajo, told our correspondent on phone that the herdsmen stormed the village late hour of Sunday and opened fire on the people, most of whom were already asleep.
• Nyajo, who said that the settlement was his village, said five persons were killed instantly, with several others sustaining serious injuries.
• “Yes, I can confirm to you that the herdsmen attacked my village, Mchia, killing five persons and injuring many others. After the attack, they withdrew through Arugu, a village close to Anyiin.
• “The villagers traced their footsteps and discovered some bank ATM cards, which will be given as evidence to security personnel to investigate. They were 10 in number,” he said.
• The chairman stated that soldiers in the area went after the attackers, saying, “but we do not know what happened afterward.”
• He added that he had deposited the corpses as well as the injured persons at the General Hospital in Anyiiin.
• When contacted, the state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, said that there was a spokesman for Joint Task Force that would brief journalists on the issue.
• “Well, I cannot say anything on that now. You know it is no longer police issue,. It is now a Joint Task Force, and there is a spokesman for that who will brief you people.”
• The spokesman for Nigeria Airforce, Wing Commander Emmanuel Iheoma, said he was not aware of the attack.