18 killed in dawn raid of Benue communities

It was like a scene from a horror movie.

Villages were invaded by armed men in the dead of the night. Shots were fired into the air to cause commotion. Harmless villagers who were asleep ran helter skelter and in the ensuing confusion, they were felled one after the other. By the time the invaders were through, 18 innocent villagers were dead.

It was bloody in Gbaange/Tongon, Hyonghtee/Ijaha and Senghev Districts in Gwer-West Local Government of Benue State last weekend.

Armed Fulani herdsmen, numbering over 200, allegedly invaded the districts in a dawn raid to wreak havoc on the people.

The raid is said to be similar to the invasion of Borno State by members of the Boko Haram sect.

The assailants were alleged to have gained entry into the local government across River Benue from Doma Local Government in Nassarawa State. They camped in Gwantashi island for some days before crossing over to Benue villages where they killed and destroyed property put at over N100 billion.

The Ter Nagi(traditional ruler), ,Chief Daniel Abomtse, who conducted reporters round the three districts, said the Fulani herdsmen were assisted by foreign mercenaries from Chad and were armed with sophiscated weapons.

Chief Abomtse said the attack on the Tiv populated villages started

on February 8, at about 4:30 am. The armed Fulani herdsmen first invaded some villages in Mbaifu and Mbaba kindred in Ityoughtee district, he said.

Explaining how they operated, Chief Abomise said:“ They first surrounded the village, shot into the air, waited for the harmless villagers who were asleep to come out of their houses. In the ensuing commotion, they shot and killed the people one after the other and set their houses and crops ablaze’’ .

The second class traditional ruler said over 300 houses were set ablaze, crops and food worth over N100 million were also burnt, Motorcycles, beddings and mattresses , and personal effects were all set ablaze; the villagers were left with nothing to eat or cover their body.

The bodies of those who died in the attack littered the three districts. They were not buried. The villagers flee their homes and took refuge in Naka, headquarters of Gwer Local Government.

For three days, the victims were helpless.

Until last Sunday,almost five days after the attack, the youths who took refuge in Naka with the parish priest of St Francis Parish Agabgbe,Fr Vitalis Ber and the traditional ruler buried their loved ones whose bodies had already decomposed in shallow graves.

Over 20,000 refugees among them children, women and the old are taking refuge in primary schools in Naka, Kula, Jimba and Ahume in the local government. Some sleep on the floor. Others find home in the open football field.

Benue State Government has set up a relief committee to support the displaced. Governor Gabriel Suswam, Senator George Akume and other prominent sons and daughters of the state have donated relief materials to the displaced. There is shortage of food supply in the camps.

Governor Suswam yesterday summoned a security meeting and had also reported the attack to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar.