Another Mass Burial To Hold In Benue On Friday

Benue state will organise another mass burial for the 24 victims of suspected herdsmen attacks following another round of crisis between suspected herdsmen and residents of Omusu Edimoga in Okpokwu local government area of Benue state.

Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has directed that the victims of the latest attacks be buried on Friday, 16 March.

The governor gave the directive on Tuesday during his visit to Omusu village.

He described the attack as unfortunate and called for the arrest and prosecution of the herdsmen allegedly responsible for the attack which has left 24 people dead.

14 of the victims were women, two children while the search for more bodies has continued.

The attackers had invaded the community after they reportedly lost their cattle and two herdsmen.

According to information made available by Benue police command, trouble started after two herdsmen were declared missing on Monday morning.

Some irate youth from Omutu were said to have engaged the herdsmen in a fight, during which some of their cows were rustled.

A peace meeting was subsequently convened by Olofu Ogwuche, chairman of the local government, and the head of the Fulani community in the area.

The police were mandated to look for the missing herdsmen.

However, the progress made got shattered when one of the herdsmen was reportedly found dead.

Ogwuche said 24 persons were killed in the incident.

Also while confirming the incident, spokesman of the police in the state, Moses Yamu said the “herdsmen surreptitiously went on a rampage, resulting in stabbing to death of 15 persons mainly women and children, while some houses were set ablaze.”

According to Yamu, four suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the incident.