Soldier, two others killed in fresh herdsmen attacks on Benue communities

• The soldier was killed during a patrol in the community by troops of the military spike operation, code named Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS.

Fresh attacks on two communities in Benue state by rampaging armed herders have claimed the lives of three persons.

Those killed in the attack are a soldier and two farmers while several other locals were injured during the separate attacks.

The attacks were carried out in Ochumekwu and Udedeku communities in Apa and Kwande Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Benue State respectively.

The soldier was killed during a patrol in the community by troops of the military spike operation, code named Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS.

The troops came under attack during the bandits raid on Udedeku community of Maav-Ya, Mkoonmom district of Mbaikyor Council Ward, Turan Jato-Aka in Kwande LGA.

The two other victims were also killed during the raid.

The troops were deployed to the state to stem the activities of armed herdsmen and bandits terrorising the locals.

Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the armed herdsmen, who had already taken over five Council Wards in Turan and the three Wards in Ikyurav Ya, invaded Udedeku community where they ambushed the victims and slaughtered them like animals.

He said, “apart from the two persons they killed like animals, as you can see from the pictures, several other persons also sustained injuries in the attack.

“At the moment all the five Council Wards in Turan and the three in Ikyurav Ya, in Kwande East are occupied by the Fulani herdsmen.

“The people have fled their homes to seek refuge elsewhere for fear of being killed by well armed herdsmen.”

Confirming the attack on his troops, the Force Commander of OPWS, Maj. Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia informed that three of the marauders were also killed in the offensive and several of their arms recovered.

He said “the suspected armed herdsmen attacked the soldiers deployed in Ochumekwu, Apa LGA. They killed one personnel, and wound one.

“The troops in response killed three and injured several of them. They recovered one AK47 rifle and rounds of ammunition from them.”

On the incident in Kwande LGA, he said “OPWS is currently carrying out a clearance operation to flush out suspected armed foreign herders who have invaded the LGA.”