By Amos Aar
ARMED men suspected to be herdsmen militia on Wednesday evening stormed the village of the ex- governor of Benue State and former senator representing Benue North East, Gabriel Suswam, in Anyiin, the headquarters of Logo LGA.
An eyewitness confided in National Record that after following the operations of the heavily armed gunmen numbering over three hundred (300), at least twenty-one dead bodies were recovered as of Thursday evening while some people were still missing, a likelihood that more victims would be picked.
A community leader, Elder Johnson Kwar, said the attack on Anyiin lasted for three hours, beginning at about 7pm and lasted up to 9pm Thursday night.
National Record further gathered that after the attack, the assailants proceeded to Ayilamo Community, a settlement close to Anyiin, killing three and leaving two others seriously injured along Ayilamo-Fofi-Abeda road.
It was also gathered that the house of the late Terkura Suswam, elder brother to Senator Suswam, who was slain by bandits in 2021, was also attacked, claiming the life of his brother, Bobo Tordoo Suswam.
Names of first 8 and 4 other unknown casualties recovered from Anyiin in addition to Bobo Suswam as posted on Facebook by a social media influencer from the area, Adegwa Orsankera included: Bem Mbateren from Mbagesa; Orihyundu Ati from Mbagesa; Asemave Nyamingyer from Tombo, and Victor Shaayongo Chembe from Ukemberagya.
Others are Changoji Dominic Iorfa from Ukemberagya; Aondover De-anigo from Ukemberagya; Aondolumun Mkaanem, and Mr Basket from Nôngov.
Another source from Ukemberagya, whose community had been attacked severally by herders killing two of her uncles and three cousins in the past, told our correspondent on phone that the people at Anyiin knew when those armed Fulani herders “numbering more than three hundred (300) crossed the river from Nasarawa yesterday (Wednesday).”
The source, who preferred anonymity, further stated: “But they probably thought the killer herdsmen were going to launch attacks either on Ukemberagya or Tombo as usual. So, they didn’t bother because the herders never attacked Anyiin before. Somebody even posted it in Tiv language on Facebook that the herders had crossed the river and I called my mother to leave our house in the village immediately. The herders were accompanied by some men who dressed in military uniforms. They usually hire Nigeriens who dress in military uniform to attack our people.
“This is even as our community has hired Nigerian soldiers to be guarding our area and we do tax ourselves to pay the soldiers N4 million on a monthly basis.”
Another source from Ayilamo, who also pleaded anonymity, however alleged that the men who dressed in military uniform were Nigerian soldiers.
When contacted, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Sewuese Anene, confirmed the attack, but said she was still awaiting details.
“The attack in Anyiin is confirmed but no details at the moment. More information will be communicated to you as I receive it please,” the PPRO replied our correspondent via WhatsApp.
