From our correspondent, in Makurdi
Over 16 persons have been feared murdered in Wandor Community, Gwer East local government area of Benue State by armed group.
The attack is coming on the heels of the expiration of the ultimatum issued by Benue State government for armed and unarmed herders to vacate the State as Hyacinth Alia vowed to implement the anti-open grazing law to the latter.
In this attack, according to an eye witness who pleaded anonymity, it lasted for over three hours between 7 pm to 10 pm on Thursday.
He said the suspected herders came through Mbasombo which has a Fulani settlement close to the boundary between Ihyravye and Ayar, adding that one Alhaji (whose name was not disclosed) who allegedly caused this incident, had three of his men earlier arrested and handed over to the Police at Aliade, but the boys were later released.
Said he: “It is this Alhaji that is operating in this axis.
“They took us by surprise. They came numbering over 40, some had guns and others cutlasses.
“Immediately, they came, they started shooting sporadically. I put a call through to someone and asked him to tell the DPO that we are under severe attack. If there had been immediate interventions, they probably wouldn’t have set the houses ablaze. One of the victims was burnt alive in his house, we had to wrap him up and take him out of his house
“As I’m talking to you now over 30 houses are burnt.
In fact the officer that was following up this case a retired World War 2 military officer, who is the community security adviser who reported the case is among those that were killed”, the source said.
As of the time of writing this report, the State Deputy Governor Sam Ode in company of the Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Adesina visited the area to assess the level of carnage and destruction.
