16 kinsmen of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom were, Monday, reportedly murdered in a fresh attack by suspected armed herdsmen, who invaded Udei and Yelwata communities in Guma Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.
Vanguard reports that the victims were said to be timber dealers, who were waylaid at about 7 pm in the bush by the assailants and murdered while carrying out their businesses.
Confirming the incident, Chairman of Guma LGA, Mr Caleb, said five of the corpses had already been recovered while the search for the remains of 11 others was ongoing.
According to the chairman, “those killed were timber dealers, who, Monday evening, went to the bush to collect the timber they had cut from the forest in Mbagwen.
“It was when they were coming out of the forest that they met the armed herdsmen who attacked and killed them. They were 16 in number. So far, five corpses have been recovered out of the 16 persons that were attacked.”
The chairman, who described the attack as unwarranted and unprovoked, said he had already reported the matter to the police.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive details of the incident.
