Eight herdsmen have been arrested by the Benue State police command in connection with New Year’s Day attacks on Guma and Logo local government areas in which 17 people were killed.
The command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, said on Wednesday in Makurdi that the attacks were carried out between 31 December, 2017 and 1 January, 2018.
“Eight herdsmen – six in Guma and two in Logo – have been arrested in connection with the attacks.
“Proper additional deployments are made to the troubled area and its environs for monitoring, in order to forestall further occurrence and to restore confidence in the minds of the people,” he said.
The command noted that investigation was ongoing and the situation was under control.
Yamu stated that seven members of the Benue State Livestock Guards were killed in the attack.
“They attacked Tomater village in Sengev Council ward; Akor village in Nzorov council ward; and Bakin Kwata village in Umanger council ward of Guma local government area.
“They also attack Again, Agba-Uko near Azege village and Tse-Aga village of Logo local government area,” he said.
According to the PPRO, the command acted promptly by deploying five combined teams of mobile and conventional policemen to the scene in Guma.
The team, he explained, was led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Emmanuel Adesina, and engaged the armed herdsmen in a gun duel, forcing them to retreat.
The Benue State Government on 21 May signed the Anti-Open grazing bill into law which took effect on 1 November, 2017.
© NAN
