Herdsmen Kill 3-Month-Old Baby, 4 Mourners, Others In Benue

Herdsmen kill 3-month-old baby, 4 mourners, others in Benue

Again, suspected Fulani herders, on Tuesday, killed 13 persons in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The latest killing came barely 48 hours after 10 persons, including two aid workers, were murdered by suspected herders.

Tuesday’s killings happened at a different location and four of the victims were said to be returning from a funeral.

Sources said the assailants laid ambush for passers-by at Ulevkaa village along the Daudu/Gbanjimba Road and shot at five persons, who were returning from a funeral, while the other eight were killed at Branch Ude also in Guma Local Government Area.

One of the sources, who identified himself as Dave and claimed to have escaped from the rampaging herders said, “Fulani herdsmen opened fire on the car of my friend, Charles Shabu, who was also conveying my brother, Joseph Terdoo Gber, at Ulevkaa village.

“After failing to get Shabu, the herdsmen blocked the road and opened fire on a Toyota Picnic, killing a three-month-old baby, who was shot in the chest, and his mother was shot on her lap.”

Dave added that the herders also shot a couple and butchered another person identified as Solomon Kumaiin.

“The remains of Terver and his wife were taken to a mortuary in Daudu,” he stated.

Confirming the killing, the Chairman of the local government council, Caleb Aba, said the attack occurred on Tuesday.

He stated, “It is true that there was an attack yesterday (Tuesday). There was a burial in Torkula and people, who were coming back from the funeral, came under attack and about five persons were killed.

“Around 10pm, there was another attack at Branch Ude, where about eight persons were killed, bringing the total to about 13 persons only yesterday (Tuesday).

“Two persons were injured, according to the information I received, and they are now receiving treatment in hospital.”