Five hunters were allegedly killed by suspected armed herders Wednesday evening when they invaded the Okpomaju community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The killing is coming after the clash between hunters and armed herders on Monday where three people were killed.
PUNCH Metro reported how armed herders who were reported to be new in the Okpomaju community on Monday attacked hunters on a hunting expedition resulting in the death of two hunters while one of the herdsmen was also killed when the hunters retaliated
The traditional ruler of Otukpo, Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, and Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, Maxwell Ogiri, had told journalists that measures were ongoing to resolve the issues and ensure peaceful co-existence and expose criminals found amongst the two parties.
Despite the ongoing efforts, residents, particularly, women and children of Okpomaju community and environs were reported to have fled their communities for fear of reprisal.
Unfortunately, on Wednesday evening, suspected herders were reported to have stormed the Okpomaju community killing five persons and injured several others.
Our correspondent gathered that the renewed hostility accompanied by the massive killings and destruction of houses at Okpomaju appeared to have relegated the resolution to the background.
A local who did not want his name mentioned told our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday evening that “the attack was unprovoked as the hunters were at home at Okpomaju when the armed herders, numbering 12, stormed the village with sophisticated guns, shooting indiscriminately.
“In the process, they killed Peter, popularly known as JPG and Moses, while others ran in different directions into the nearby bushes with gunshots.
“So far, we have recovered three dead bodies from those who ran to the bush making a total of five. The fifth was recovered near the Odudaje stream.
“As I speak with you, we are at the graveside, burying one of the victims, and are awaiting the other bodies from the mortuary. We are with over 200 Otukpo hunters.”
Residents of the neighbouring communities, such as Odudaje, Amla, Emichi and Otukpo-Icho, among others, were said to have fled their communities.
Confirming the Wednesday attack, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Ogiri, said security agents, including soldiers and the police had been deployed to the troubled Okpomaju community to protect the residents and forestall further breakdown of law and order.
“It’s true that despite all our efforts, the Okpomaju village was attacked yesterday evening (Wednesday) and some people were killed.
“However, security operatives, including soldiers and policemen, have been drafted to the community to restore peace,” the council chairman said.
Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer, in the state, Catherine Anene, were not successful as her phone rang out but she did not pick the calls. She did not respond to the message sent to phone too as of the time of writing this report.
