The Gbeji community in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State was assaulted on Wednesday by some herders as retaliation, and 16 persons, including two policemen, were slain in the attack.
Wale Abass, the state’s commissioner of police, claimed that the situation began on Tuesday after the deaths of five herdsmen.
“Two Fulanis from Taraba State were traveling in a Keke Napep when they were stopped by several locals, who attacked and killed them,” he claimed.
“Two other Fulanis perished simultaneously in Logo LGA, close to Anyiin. One of the herders was also attacked and killed in another village. After that, neighbors killed and shared his cows.
Therefore, when these events occurred and we learned about them, we made plans to meet and appease the Fulanis through their leader, Miyetti Allah, in order to avert any retaliation, not realizing that they had their own strategy.
They (the Fulanis) bombarded Gbeji and fired intermittently on Wednesday at 7 a.m. Unluckily, one of our cops was wounded by a stray bullet and passed away before being transferred to the hospital.
The police commissioner claimed that according to the report he had at his disposal, 10 individuals, including the police officer and some Fulanis, had died.
He mentioned that the locals and alleged herders who committed the atrocity were both being sought after by security personnel.
However, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (retd), the governor’s security adviser, acknowledged 18 fatalities in a Wednesday press conference.
He asserted that he was unaware of the five herdsmen’s murder.
“As for retaliation, I have not yet received any reports about the killing of the Fulanis,” he stated. I’m still attempting to get information. Today (Wednesday) about 12.45am, someone woke me up and told me that there was an attack going on in Gbeji.
“I notified the security authorities, and they all mobilized and responded to the distress call, helping to reduce the casualties,” the speaker said. The DSS was one of the security services that responded.
According to the head of the council, who is on the scene, “the verifiable figure I have at this time with images handed to me by him is 18, including two cops.”
The security adviser claimed that the dead bodies were sent to NKST Hospital in Afia while the injured were taken to the local government health center in Afia.
He mentioned that those who were in serious condition were being sent to the Makurdi state teaching hospital.
