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By Our Reporter
Scores of people, including a police sergeant, traders and farmers were at the early hours of Wednesday, 19th October, 2022, killed in Gbeji, Ukum Local Government Area, Benue State, when suspected herdsmen attack the border Community, GrassrootsAfrica reports.
Speaking from Zaki-Biam, headquarters of Ukum LGA, an indigene of the affected community Elder Iorngaem Kerepe expressed shock over the attack owing to the fact that, there is the presence of military men at Kente, a Jukun settlement on the Benue -Taraba border, 2 kilometre from Gbeji, with another military check point at Gou 3 kilometre from Gbeji yet the armed herdsmen operated successfully for over one hour.
Explaining further Iorngaem informed that the herdsmen stormed Gbeji town through St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Gbeji, shooting sporadically, killing 20 people in the process including a police sergeant and one corporal when they attempted to repel the attackers.
As of going to press, about 15 houses were set ablaze while 20 persons confirmed dead with 11 others left with serious bullets and matchet injuries. Those remains of who are killed in attack have been deposited at a nearby morgue.
Names obtained as those killed in the attack include Mr. Mteen Kulegwa, 48, Ikechukwu popularly known as (IK) a trader residence in Gbeji, Mr. Stephen Kpelan, Mr. Afam, Godwin Zege, Vincent Tyavmbi, Akor Ikyor and Mr. Ordugh Ikyor among others.
When contacted on phone, the Executive Chairman, Ukum Local Government Council, Hon Tyoumbur Kaatyo, who visited the affected area on a spot assessment condemned the attack and call on law enforcement agencies to redouble their efforts to secure the border communities from Fulani herdsmen attacks.
Hon Kaatyo stated that so far, he saw eight bodies deposited in one hospital with 11 others admitted with serious bullets injuries at different hospitals.
