Three people were killed at Imatom village in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday, October 14, 2023, by suspected herdsmen.
A community leader in the state, Joseph Anawa, made this known on Sunday, October 15.
Anawa identified the victims as Tertsea Terkimbi Adagundu, Tertsea Mkposu and Mimidoo Umburga.
“These three young men were killed by Fulani militia herdsmen at Imatom village Square near Chembe, Ukemberagya, Logo Local Government Area, Benue State on Saturday at about 9pm,” the community leader told journalists.
“Their corpses have been deposited at NKST hospital morgue, Anyiin.
All these renewed attacks and killing without any provocation are aimed at displacing the peasant farmers in order to pave way for cattle to graze on their crops which are yet to be harvested,” Anawa stated further.
He added that the armed herdsmen had renewed onslaught in the council area, just as he listed the attacks by the herdsmen since the beginning of September.
Anawa said: “Recently, on Saturday, September 3, at about 11am, one Monday Hembaku of Chembe village was accosted and killed on his Cassava farm by Fulani herdsmen.
His corpse is still lying at NKST Anyiin morgue.
“Five days later on Friday, September 29, at about 2pm, two women from the same village (Chembe), Mrs Iember Ornguga and Dinnah Chembe, were macheted and badly wounded by Fulani marauders when they went to fetch firewood.
“They were rushed to a medical facility by men of Operation Wilds Stroke station at Arufu, a nearby settlement, where they are recuperating.
“Another attack took place on Wednesday, October 11, at about 9am, at Iorza along Tse Abiem road, where two young men, Mr. Mbaadega Vihimga and Chuku Gaku, who went to buy fish at Zebo Market near River Benue, were waylaid on their way back by Fulani militia who inflicted on them various degrees of injuries.
“They are now receiving treatment at a medical facility at Iorza. Then came the killing of these three young men on Saturday, October 14, at about 9pm.”
The community leader appealed to both state and federal governments to deploy security to the area.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state command, SP Catherine Anene, said she had yet to get any information on the latest attack.