At least three people have been killed while several others sustained injuries after suspected armed herdsmen reportedly attacked Abaushwa community in Ndzorov Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area, Benue State.

The incident occurred late Monday night when the attackers reportedly invaded the community, located near Gbajimba, the headquarters of Guma LGA, at about 11:30pm.

According to a security source, the suspected assailants opened fire on residents during the attack, sending members of the community into panic as they reportedly shot at people in sight.

It was learnt that among those killed were a father, his son and daughter, who reportedly lost their lives during the violent assault.

The Chairman of Guma Local Government Council, Hon. Maurice Orwough, has condemned the attack, describing the incident in Abaushwa, Ndzorov Council Ward, as unacceptable.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Personal Assistant on Communication and Strategy, Ernest Tortiv, the chairman said, “The unfortunate attack claimed the lives of innocent people, left many others injured, and caused fear and destruction in the community. Hon. Orwough described the incident as heartbreaking and unacceptable.”

Orwough sympathised with the bereaved families and offered prayers for those injured, wishing them a quick recovery.

He further disclosed that security personnel had been deployed to the affected community to restore calm, safeguard residents and their property, and forestall another attack.

The council chairman also appealed to residents to remain peaceful and work closely with security agencies by providing relevant information that could assist efforts to tackle insecurity in the area.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command has yet to provide an official account of the incident.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, when contacted, promised to respond to enquiries concerning the attack but had not done so as of the time of filing this report.

Two Fulani herders have been rescued by the personnel of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as the Amotekun Corps, following their abduction by kidnappers.

The victims identified as Abubakar Umaru and Abdulahi Umaru were abducted in Owo Axis, along the boundary of Ondo-Edo State, while grazing their cattle.

While narrating how the victims were rescued, the Commander of Amotekun in the state, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed his men were deployed shortly after the parents of the young herders alerted the command of the development.

He said, “We singled out this particular situation where two Fulani boys were kidnapped and their cattle rescued. We moved into action because they reported that the children that went out did not come back on time.

“When it became apparent that the boys had been kidnapped, we went deep into the forest, linking Ondo to Edo into an area called Abuja Forest between Ondo and Edo in the Owk local government.”

According to Adeleye, after combing the forest for several hours, the search team eventually traced the abductors’ hideout and rescued the victims.

The Amotekun commander, however, disclosed that the kidnappers fled upon discovering that security operatives had surrounded the area.

Troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace have rescued an injured farmer and seized 27 cattle after responding to two separate attacks linked to suspected violent herders in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to intelligence sources who spoke with Zagazola Makama, the first incident occurred at about 4:05 pm on August 3, when troops stationed in Komtul received a distress call about an attack on a farmer, Kopdi Istifanus, at his farmland in Maraban Village, Pushit District.

The troops quickly moved to the scene, forcing the suspected herders to flee. The injured farmer was rescued and taken to Miton Clinic in Pushit for treatment.

Later that evening, at about 6:57 pm, troops responded to another report that suspected herders were attacking farmers across the Bwor River in Mangu.

On arrival, the soldiers reportedly found some herders chasing farmers away from their farmlands while carrying knives.

Sources said the situation turned violent when the suspects allegedly attempted to attack the troops with a knife as security personnel worked to restore order.

The troops fired “two rounds of 7.62 x 39mm special ammunition” to stop the attackers. The suspects abandoned the knife and fled, leaving their livestock behind.

Security personnel recovered the knife and confiscated 27 cattle belonging to the fleeing suspects for further action.

Troops have continued patrols in the area as efforts are underway to arrest the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks on farming communities.