One injured as suspected herders raid Benue community

Suspected armed herders invaded Ankpechi community in Benue State on Thursday, shooting sporadically and looting shops. One resident was shot and is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

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Our community (Ankpechi), between 8am and 9am today (Thursday), came under heavy attack by Fulani herdsmen. They came in their numbers and shot sporadically, making residents scamper for safety.

Local sources reported that the herders stormed the community around 8 a.m., firing shots and then proceeding to loot provision shops. "It was as if the provision shops were their main target," said one local resident who identified himself as Elijah.

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From what we witnessed, it was as if the provision shops were their main target.

The Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Gabriel Adole, confirmed the attack, stating that the armed men looted goods and food items. "That is to tell you that they live very close to us. They came to attack and take food from our communities," Adole said. He added that more security personnel have been deployed to the area.

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Yes, there was an attack this morning between 8am and 9am by armed herdsmen. They came to Ankpechi, which is in Oglewu Ward, shooting sporadically.

The attack occurred just days after similar incidents in Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo communities, which resulted in fatalities. These attacks have fueled claims of reprisal by herders following the killing of Ardo Risku Mohammed, the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, weeks prior. However, the state secretary of MACBAN, Ibrahim Galma, has distanced the association from the Otukpo-Nobi attack.

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That is to tell you that they live very close to us. They came to attack and take food from our communities. They cannot go to buy food, so they came to Ohimini to collect food and used force to take it.