Herdsmen Storm Benue Community, Kill 3 Volunteers Guards, 3 Others

Armed men suspected to be herdsmen have again attacked the Ortese and Ngban communities killing six people including three personnel of the State Community Volunteers Guards and a hunter in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the attack which happened between Ortese and Ngban villages on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, also claimed the lives of two other people.

The Security Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom, Lt Col. Paul Hemba, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday, said three members of the State Volunteer Guards and a hunter were on a joint patrol with policemen when were ambushed by the herdsmen.

“Three members of Benue State Community Volunteer Guards and a hunter were killed yesterday (Tuesday) by suspected bandits while on a joint patrol with policemen. They were ambushed by armed herdsmen between Ortese and Ngban villages,” he said.

Hemba identified the victims as Sunday Ingbe, Timothy Ibawa from Nyiev Council ward and Asema Aondowase from Mbadwem Council ward all in Guma LGA.

“The corpse of one hunter has also been recovered alongside the bodies of the Volunteers Guards members,” he said, adding that the armed herders went away with weapons and handsets belonging to the deceased.

“They (armed herders) have been calling to claim that the government in the state promised to give them land in the area to settle and graze,” Hemba said.