Suspected herders in Benue kill five, torch homes

Five people have been killed in yet another attack by alleged herders on the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

Mamud Abubakar, a Superintendent of Police, the Naka Divisional Police Officer, and five other people were killed in separate incidents nearby around two weeks ago.

In the most recent attack, which took place on Thursday, the attackers reportedly attacked the Nagi Mbachohon council in the Gwer West at around 5 p.m., leaving five people dead and seven others injured.

According to a local who talked to journalists under the condition of anonymity, “the herders invaded the Nagi settlement yesterday around 5pm” (Thursday).

“They came in large numbers and opened fire on anything they saw; the attack lasted for approximately 30 minutes, after which they fled. After things had calmed down, we discovered two ladies and three men—five dead bodies—on the ground. They also set fire to a number of residences, including the community’s traditional ruler’s palace.

Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (ret.), the governor’s security adviser confirmed the attack.

Herdsmen kill Ondo farmer after wife fails to raise ransom

Akinola Akinnibinu, a 40-year-old farmer, was allegedly murdered on his farm at Oko Oparun Village in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State by some suspected herdsmen

According to information obtained, the accused herders murdered the deceased after the farmer’s wife failed to provide the N700,000 ransom sought by the kidnappers.

A source claims that when the victim went to harvest cocoa on that fatal day, a call was put to Mrs Akinnbinu, his wife, where she was ordered to collect N700,000 from a POS machine and bring money to the farm.
The victim’s wife was also alter contacted with the demand that she wire the money to the account number they had provided.

“The wife summoned the Amotekun Corps and other villagers to accompany her as she traveled there out of dread. However, when they arrived at the crime scene, they did not run across the spouse and the kidnappers.

It was learned that his lifeless body was discovered on the fourth day, inside the farm, splashed with a substance that appeared to be acid.
Narrating the incident, Mrs Akinnbinu said the kidnappers kidnapped and killed her husband over the issue of ransom.

“My husband left the house in the morning to work on his farm. He later contacted me to pick up cash from a POS close to our home,” she stated. When I questioned him about his plans for the money, he replied that I should bring it and that he would explain them once I arrived at the farm.

“When I arrived at the location, I did not see them, and after leaving, we did not hear from the villagers again until yesterday, when they reported seeing a dead body shrouded in bamboo leaves and smeared in chemical residue. My husband’s body was there.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the event and stated an inquiry had started.

The PPRO said, “It happened a few days ago, and we’ve started an investigation into it.”