The traditional ruler of Nyiev Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Chief Bernard Shawa, has narrated how suspected herdsmen killed two of his children and thirty seven others during an attack on the IDP camp in the community on Good Friday.
The monarch also disclosed that thirty eight other victims of the attack sustained severe injuries but were evacuated to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.
Chief Shawa disclosed this when he received Governor Samuel Ortom and his Deputy, Benson Abounu who visited the community to assess the incident on the spot.
Within Nigeria, suspected animal husbandry has reportedly killed at least fourty three internally displaced people, i.e. internally displaced (IDPs).
During a late-night attack at LGEA Mgban Primary School Recounting how armed shepherds stormed the community between nine and ten p.m. on Friday, the monarch said: “I was sitting outside with my children when we started to hear gunfire from across the street road.
“We ran, but my two children, a boy and a girl, did not run, they were shot by the Fulani people.
“And because we have a checkpoint on the road, displaced people usually take shelter in the LGEA Primary School, they opened fire on IDPs and people in the community, shooting and killing our people when they spoke the language.
“And until today, they also attacked our community on February 25, 2023.
That day they killed twelve people.”
The king’s father congratulated Governor Ortom for leading a message to the community to sympathize with the people over the incident.