The Police
in Benue say they have arrested eight herdsmen over the death of 10 persons and
seven livestock guards in Guma and Logo Local Governments of the state
on
Monday.
The Police
Public Relations Officer in the state, Moses Yamu, announced this in a
statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Makurdi.
“Eight
herdsmen, six in Guma and two in Logo, had been arrested in connection with the
attacks,” the police spokesman said.
He added
that the command had made additional deployments to the troubled area to
forestall further occurrence and restore confidence of the people.
Mr. Yamu
stressed the situation in the two local government areas had been brought under
control while investigation was ongoing.
He said:
“They attacked Tomater village in Sengev Council ward, Akor village in Nzorov
council ward and Bakin Kwata village in Umanger council ward of Guma LGA.
“Among those
killed were seven (7) members of Benue State Livestock Guards, their vehicle
burnt and an uncertain number of persons injured in separate attacks between
31/12/2017 and 02/01/2018.
“Again,
Agba-Uko near Azege village and Tse-Aga village of Logo LGA experienced the
same fate, where one person was killed, one motorcycle burnt and four persons
injured.
“All the
injured from both LGAs are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals
in the State.”
According to
him, five combined teams of mobile and conventional policemen led by Assistant
Commissioner of Police, Operations, Emmanuel Adesina, have engaged the armed
herdsmen in a gun duel in Guma.
The Benue
governor said on Tuesday that 20 people were killed in the attacks.
The News
Agency of Nigeria reports that the Benue Anti-Open Grazing Law came into effect
on November 1, 2017 to forestall attacks on Benue communities by suspected
herders.
The law
stipulates five year jail term or an option of N1 million fine for violators.
The attack
is the first by suspected herdsmen since the law came into effect.
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