From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Chief of Army staff, Olufemi Oloyede has temporarily relocated to Benue State to tackle the increasing security challenges in the State.
The Chief of Army staff who held a closed door meeting with governor Hyacinth Alia in government house shortly upon arrival, is expected to visit some of the communities attacked by armed herdsmen.
Arising from the closed meeting, Governor Hyacinth Alia intimated the Benue State traditional council as well as the state security council on the purpose of the visit of the army chief.
The Governor said the Chief of Army staff has brought a message of hope to the people of Benue in the face of the renewed, unprovoked attacks and killings perpetrated by armed herders.
Governor Alia who said the Chief of Army staff also condoled with the state government over the killings, gave assurances of the federal government to intensify efforts to address the situation.
The meeting had in attendance, the Tor-Tiv, Prof. James Ayaste, Och’idoma, Dr. John Eliagwu Odogbo represented by the Ad’Enone, Chief George Edeh, First class Chiefs, Third class Chiefs, Benue State commissioner of police, state commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, amongst others.
Meanwhile, herdsmen at the weekend killed over 46 persons in two separate attacks on communities in Apa and Gwer West Local Government areas of the state.
This came as no fewer than 15 persons also lost their lives, and closed to 200 houses completely razed in a communal clash between the people of Mbakine and Ojumole, also in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered from an eyewitness that the crisis in Apa started Sunday afternoon, when armed herders invaded Ijaha Ibele Ochekwu, in Apa council, killing two persons and injuring several others.
The source said: “After that incident, people fled for their lives and, when they thought it was all over about 5p.m., the herders launched a full scale attack on Edikwu Ankpali community.
“They shot and killed the defenceless people including women and children who were running for their lives. The attack was totally unprovoked.
“As we speak, 28 bodies have been recovered from the scenes of the attacks and many persons have been moved to hospitals for medical attention.”
Similarly, the marauders also stormed Tse Antswam community in Naka, the headquarters of neighbouring Gwer West council Sunday about 7p.m., shooting at everything in sight.
