Ortom fights back tears, seeks FG’s intervention
By Daniel Agbo, Makurdi
Gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herders, on New Year day and in the early hours of yesterday, invaded five communities in Logo and Guma local government areas, killing 30 persons and injuring several others.
The farmers/herders’ clash got to head in the state, with the state government promulgating an anti-grazing law, believed not to have gone down well with the Fulani cattle breeders.
Like the previous ones, the New Year tragedy claimed a lot of casualties, a development that forced Governor Samuel Ortom to fight back tears while briefing journalists on the development.
Blueprint gathered that the attackers, who wielded dangerous weapons on the New Year day around 10 am, attacked Ayilamo, Turan and Gambe-Tiev, all in Logo local government area, and opened fire on many of the locals in church for the New Year services.
It was further gathered that the gunmen later, around 3am, proceeded to Tamatar, and Umenger in Guma, where they burnt a patrol vehicle, killed livestock guards and started shooting and killing the villagers.
Confirming the incident, Governor Ortom described the development as unfortunate.
The governor, who spoke to newsmen after visiting victims of the attack at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), however, said more than 30 persons were killed, including 9 members of his Livestock Special Guard.
“This is unfortunate, we are living in a country we call our own and this is happening. It is not that these warnings were not given out, the security agencies in this country are aware of what you are seeing today, and this is just a tip of the iceberg.
“What has happened there from the report I have gotten, is far beyond what you have seen here. So many houses burnt; so many people killed and some, they are still looking for, and some of the places cannot be accessed.
“You can imagine innocent children and women were killed and their private parts removed. People were slaughtered like animals.
“Federal government must rise to the challenge and give us protection to show that truly we are also citizens of this country. This is not fair, this is not right and we cannot accept it,” the governor lamented, holding tears back.
Speaking to newsmen, Dr. Gajir Hembaor Tsoho from the Surgery Department of the state university teaching hospital, confirmed that more than 30 injured were brought to the hospital, noting that three lost their lives.
Police spokesperson, Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident, but said their men were still inside the bush, adding: “I cannot tell you or ascertain the exact level of casualty until I receive the report.”
At BSUTH, Blueprint observed that more injured persons and corpses were still being brought into the hospital as at the time of this report.
