Obaland magazine learned about the Suspected armed herdsmen in the Orokam community of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State have reportedly killed two persons, including a councilor-elect and his cousin. Sources from the area told newsmen that the headless bodies of the councilor and his cousin (names withheld) were discovered in the forest on Friday morning. The killing of the duo was said to have sparked heavy protest in the area, as youths were said to have come out in large numbers to barricade the major highway in the community, thus causing a heavy gridlock in the area for several hours.
Confirming the report through telephone, the chairman of the council, Samuel Onu said the victims were among local hunters who had gone with vigilantes and some policemen men to rescue a man who had earlier been kidnapped by suspected herdsmen in the area.
“There was a kidnap yesterday (Thursday). For the last three days now, the herdsmen have been troubling the area and there has been incessant kidnap in the local government. They (herdsmen) left one community in Owukpa and went towards Orokam.
“On their way to Orokam, they kidnapped one man. So, the councilor-elect, since he lived in the village, was a hunter too. He and his cousin, with other hunters and the vigilante with Operation Zenda, entered the forest to see if they could rescue the man that was kidnapped. It was when they were to return yesterday that they noticed that two of them were missing. But they (security personnel) were able to arrest two of the Fulani men. This morning when they went to check again, they saw their headless, lifeless bodies,” he said.
Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, SP Catherine Anene said she was yet to be briefed on the development.
Report From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
