Herdsmen kill dozens in fresh Benue community attack

- Herdsmen have struck again in a community in Benue state - They reportedly attacked Branch Umenger community in Guma local government area of the state - The attackers were said to have also razed another village Dozens of locals are feared dead after suspected herdsmen attacked Umenger community in Guma local government area of Benue state. According to Vanguard, the attackers butchered several persons, including children and some village elders on Thursday, March 22. Among those killed in the latest attack, were one James Apav and Ataki Mageri. The attackers also razed another village called Tse Sameka. “Several persons have deserted their homes for fear of being killed by the heavily armed herdsmen,” a source quoted in the report said. The attacks have been confirmed by the Benue state government. Photo credit: Sodiq Adelakun The attack has also been confirmed by the Benue state  - Dapchi parents In a statement sent to NAIJ.com, Terver Akase, the chief press secretary of the Benue state governor, confirmed the attack. “I can confirm that armed herdsmen this morning attacked Umenger community in Guma local government area of Benue state. The herders killed two and injured some of the farmers who had gone to get food from their farms. “While we condemn this unwarranted attack, we expect that the killers will be apprehended by security agencies and brought to justice,” the statement said. Meanwhile, Governor Ortom has pleaded with federal government to upgrade the Exercise Ayem A’ Kpatuma to a full military operation to effectively check the ongoing killings in the state’s rural communities. Governor Ortom, who made this statement on Monday, March 19, while inspecting four Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs) camps at Abagana in Makurdi, said full army presence in the state may help to prevent the attacks.