At least three people have been killed in fresh attacks by armed invaders on communities in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attacks, which occurred between Friday and Saturday, also left at least two persons injured, while several cows were rustled and a motorcycle stolen.
Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Gabriel Adole, who confirmed the incidents on Sunday, said the gunmen first struck Elulu community on Friday where one person was killed and another attacked before his Bajaj motorcycle was taken away.
He said the same group later invaded Agadagba community in an attempt to rustle cattle but met resistance from residents and local vigilantes, who reportedly shot one of the attackers in the leg, forcing the group to retreat without the livestock.
Adole said that the attackers returned to Agadagba on Saturday and killed two more residents, bringing the death toll from the attacks to three.
“So far, three lives have been lost to the attacks. Two persons who were injured, including the owner of the stolen motorcycle and another victim attacked during the cattle rustling incident, are receiving treatment in the hospital,” he said.
Adole said security personnel had since been deployed to the affected communities, while local vigilantes had also been mobilised to complement security efforts in tracking the attackers.
He said that Governor Hyacinth Alia had directed the mobilisation of community vigilantes to strengthen security, expressing confidence that the perpetrators would not be allowed to force residents out of their ancestral homes.
“Our vigilantes are on the ground because they can access areas that are difficult for conventional security operatives. We will not allow these marauders to drive us out of our land,” the chairman added.
Meanwhile, residents said armed men also attacked Ogoli and Igblagidi in Ugboju on Saturday in separate incidents, where three persons, including a cattle owner, sustained gunshot injuries, while several cows were rustled.
Police Public Relations Officer for Benue command (PPRO), DSP Udeme, had yet to respond to calls or messages as of the time of filing this report.
