Survivors of Benue attack allegedly by herdsmen narrate ordeal
- Survivors of the brutal attack by suspected herdsmen in Omusu, Ojigo ward of Edumoga local government area of Benue state have given accounts of the attack
- Anthony Aba, one of the survivors, said he saw heavily armed herdsmen breaking into people's house and killing them
- Another survivor, David Ojobo, said his father lost his life in the attack
One of the survivors of the attack allegedly perpetrated by herdsmen on Monday, March 5, in Omusu, Ojigo ward of Edumoga local government area of Benue state, has given horrifying details of the attack that claimed 26 lives most of whom were women and children, Vanguard reports.
Legit.ng noted that the survivor, Anthony Aba, who is a native of the community stated that most of them were busy in the farm when they suddenly started hearing gunshots from several directions.
He said: "We all started running, women and children ran into any available house but that did not save them. From where I hid, I saw heavily armed herdsmen breaking into people’s houses and butchering women and children and the elderly who hid because they could not flee.
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“The invaders also embarked on the burning of houses and food barns after which they headed toward Adiga and villages in neighbouring Ado local government area.”
Another survivor, David Ojobo said: “I just recently had a surgery, so I was handicapped when the herdsmen came shooting sporadically and killing anyone they caught up with. I managed to hide but the nightmare I will continue to live with was the cold blooded slaughter of my aged father who I couldn’t help from where I was hiding but saw how Fulani herdsmen caught him and put a knife to his throat.
“My helpless father cried and begged for mercy but the heartless armed men slaughtered him like a goat and I couldn’t raise a finger.”
Many of the survivors are at the Saint Mary’s Hospital and the General Hospital, Okpoga, nursing bullet wounds.
One of them is 42-year-old widow, Rose Oda, who was shot on her thigh. She said: “My husband died three years ago and, since then, I have been catering for my three children all alone. I do not engage in anything that will create problems for me and my children. I don’t know what led to the crisis but I managed to escape with my daughter who was also shot. Our saving grace is that we passed out after being shot, so they mistook us for dead and left.
“But, as I speak with you, two of my children are still missing and nobody has told me of their whereabouts.”
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Benue state governor Samuel Ortom after a meeting with security council in the state told the displaced indigenes of Mbatoho Island at the government house, on Tuesday, March 6, that security agents will swing into action.
He said: ''We just came out of a security meeting today. The Mbatoho community attack and displacement by these mercenary herdsmen featured extensively and we have taken steps.
''I believe that within the week the security agencies should swing into action and ensure. We chase away all the killer herdsmen and mercenary herdsmen that invaded your land.''
Victims of Herdsmen killing buried in Benue state - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
