Anxiety as Benue monarch, 24 others were killed by herdsmen

Pandemonium in Benue as a traditional ruler, King Zaki Unongo Shaayange, was murdered alongside 24 residents on Monday night.

It was learnt the King and the 24 persons were killed in separate attacks on communities and villages in Guma, Logo and Tarka Local Government Areas of Benue State by suspected armed herdsmen.

The incident which occurred on Monday in the three Local Government Areas left several persons hospitalised with brutal machete and gunshot injuries.

According to one of the Communities’ chairmen, chief Joseph Anawa, about six armed Herdsmen blocked and dominate the Anyiin-Tse Like, the road in Ukemberagya Ward of Gaamebetiev Logo Local Government Area at about 7:15 pm on Monday.

He narrated, “They shot and killed the traditional ruler, Zaki Unongo Shaayange at Ikyaan village, matcheted many who are now in critical conditions at the NKST Hospital Anyiin. One of the victims of the attack, Mr Aondoakura Kile also disclosed that the Fulani terrorists made away with some Baja motorcycles of their victims.”

According to a local source, about nine(9) persons were as well shot on Monday night at about 8:00 pm by the armed herdsmen close to Umenge, Mbadwem Council Ward in Guma Local Government Area.

The source said the armed herdsmen invaded the communities from a neighbouring state Nasarawa, adding that the armed herdsmen shot randomly and were interrogating victims in front of their houses.

The local source added, “They shot at the people as they fled and anyone they caught up with was not spared. Nine persons were killed and many others sustained injuries. As we speak women and children are fleeing their homes in their numbers in search of safe areas in neighbouring communities to hide themselves.”

The Chairman of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Rt. Hon. Caleb Aba disclosed to the press that the attack was unprovoked.

Narrating further, he said, “these days these Fulani herdsmen don’t have to be provoked before they attack and kill because the agenda is to chase us away from our ancestral homes and occupy our land.”

It was also gathered that the armed herdsmen attacked the Tioryu community on Makurdi-Gboko road in Tarka Local Government Area and shot 15 persons dead.