One injured as suspected herders raid Benue community

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Suspected armed herders reportedly invaded Ankpechi community in Oglewu Ward, Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, on Thursday, shooting sporadically and looting shops.

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One person was reportedly shot during the attack and is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

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A local source, who identified himself as Elijah, told journalists in a telephone interview on Thursday that some herders stormed the community around 8am, shot sporadically and embarked on a looting spree.

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Elijah said, “Our community (Ankpechi), between 8am and 9am today (Thursday), came under heavy attack by Fulani herdsmen. They came in their numbers and shot sporadically, making residents scamper for safety.

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“At the same time, the assailants looted provision shops. From what we witnessed, it was as if the provision shops were their main target.”

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The local added that a resident of the community was hit by a bullet and is now receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

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The Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Gabriel Adole, who confirmed the incident, said the armed men stormed the community between 8am and 9am on Thursday.

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Adole said, “Yes, there was an attack this morning between 8am and 9am by armed herdsmen. They came to Ankpechi, which is in Oglewu Ward, shooting sporadically.

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“They shot one person and the community scampered for safety. They then burgled shops in the area and carted away goods and food items.

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“That is to tell you that they live very close to us. They came to attack and take food from our communities. They cannot go to buy food, so they came to Ohimini to collect food and used force to take it.”

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The chairman said the victim had been taken to hospital for treatment and added that more security personnel had been deployed to the area.

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The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached for comment as her phone rang out.

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The latest attack on Ankpechi community in Ohimini LGA came barely three days after Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo communities in Otukpo LGA were attacked, leading to the deaths of several people.

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The incessant attacks and killings in the two LGAs have sparked claims that they were reprisals by herders over the killing of Ardo Risku Mohammed, the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, a few weeks ago in the area.

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Meanwhile, the state secretary of MACBAN, Ibrahim Galma, had shortly after the attack on Otukpo-Nobi in Otukpo LGA distanced the association’s members from the attack.

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