For the second time, alleged gunman pastoralists raid Benue village, claim a life and leave several wounded

A brutal attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Ikobi community in Benue State's Apa Local Government Area has left one person dead and several others injured, with the victim, Anyebe Shaibu, also known as Ochodo, being killed on his farm.

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The assault occurred on Friday afternoon, when the herdsmen stormed the community and encountered the deceased, proceeding to kill and mutilate him in a gruesome manner.

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A local source, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed that the victims were preparing their farmland for cropping when the attack happened, with several people present at the scene, although most managed to escape unscathed.

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The source described the killing as "painful", stating that the perpetrators murdered Ochodo and mutilated his body with knives, likening the act to treating him like an animal, and noting that his only "sin" was farming on his ancestral land.

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The attack has instilled fear among locals, who are now hesitant to tend to their farms, raising concerns about potential starvation, as the community relies on farming to feed their families.

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The source urged the federal and state governments to fulfill their constitutional duties by providing security for the people's lives and properties, emphasizing that this is the primary purpose of government, and suggesting that if they cannot do so, they should resign.

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Attempts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, leaving the community without an official statement on the incident.