*Gunmen suspected to be armed herders kill 15 persons in Benue Communities
*As suspected armed bandits abduct 6 market women in Kogi Community
*Benue attack took place in Agatu Local Government Area
*The market women were abducted from Ugbamaka Village in Ofu LGA of Kogi State
By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi and Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Blood bath in Benue State continues at the weekend as15 people were reportedly killed while several others sustained various degree of injures, in a renewed attack by suspected armed herdsmen in Ogwumogbo and Okpo’okpolo communities in Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
In a related development, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers were reported to have abducted six women from Ugbamaka village in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State on their way from Ejule Market where they had gone to trade.
On Benue attack, a source, the attack started on Saturday evening and continued into Sunday morning, two weeks after a similar assault in Otobi-Akpa community in Otukpo LGA, where a district head of Agatu living in Otukpo local government area with seven others lost their lives.
The source who spoke to our correspondent on phone on condition of anonymity said six (6) persons in Ogbayi and Ogwumogbo communities respectively.
“There was a small stream there, called Abekoko, one Ali from Ogwumogbo and five others whose names were not known yet, where killed”.
“Our farming communities are now deserted, with residents fleeing to neighboring areas in search of safety.
“The situation is dire, especially for women and children, who are urgently in need of assistance.
“We call on Benue State Governor, His Excellency, Rev. Dr. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia as well as security personnel, to kindly swing into action to put an end to this unfortunate massacre of our people by criminal herders”, the source said.
The Executive Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, Melvin Ejeh, could not be reach for comment.
However, a close aide to the council chairman told newsmen on phone that his principal could not be reached because he was far away attending the burial of those killed by the herders.
The Aide who spoke on condition of anonymity said the situation is pathetic, painful and a distraction of peace currently being enjoyed in Agatu area.
“My chairman is pained over this latest killing because it was uncalled for, hence the relative peace and tranquility in our area since the beginning of year.
“I can confirm to you that six people were killed in Ogbayi and Ogwumogbo communities in Agatu by armed herders.
“The attack was unprovoked. I thank the Benue State Governor Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia for his quick intervention and also the security personnel who have been drafted to area to forestall further attack”, the Aide said.
When contacted the chairman of Miyietti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria(MACBAN) Benue State chapter, Mohammed Risku, said he was in a meeting and promised to back.
Effort to get confirmation from the Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Catherine Anene proved abortive as she could not respond to text messages and calls put across to her cell phone.
In Kogi, eye witnesses told our Correspondent that the women were abducted at gun-point at about 5.30 pm on Ejule-Agojeju -Ugbamaka road near Efaku village when their vehicle was forced to stop at a barricade mounted by the hoodlums.
The source further revealed that the abductors who left the driver of the vehicle behind marched the six panic-stricken market women into the bush and vanished into the forest with them.
According to the source, the six women from Ugbamaka went to the Ejule market to market their goods and successfully finished the day’s business only to be picked by the hoodlums on their way back home.
The eye-witness whose aunt, Mrs Ainoko, was among the victims identified the rest as Abaro, Ojoma, Mrs Sam, Ochika and Mrs Diyee.
“The kidnappers left the driver of the vehicle behind but collected his cell phone and those of the six women.
“Shortly after the incident, we alerted the soldiers who have been parading this area and protecting us and they have been on the trail of the hoodlums.
“But unfortunately, the closer the soldiers get to them, the more the hoodlums move deeper into the forest as if they are also monitoring the soldiers.
Ms Jumai David from Ugbamaka village and a sister to one of the victims said, “We have not been able to contact them since the incident. The kidnappers have not made any contact. No contact has been made to any of us either.”
Confirming the incident, Kogi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP William Aya said the women left Ejule market and were heading back to the village when they were “picked.”
