Three persons have been reportedly killed in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area of Benue state by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom, Mr. Nathaniel Ikyur, stated that “At about 5pm Saturday, February 19th, 2022, suspected Fulani gunmen killed two males and a female while returning from a burial along Iordye- Gbajimba road in Guma Local Government Area of Benue state.
“The victims were riding on a motorcycle when they were ambushed and shot dead by the killer herdsmen.”
The statement said two died on the spot from gunshot wounds while the other was brutally macheted to death.
He said Soldiers attached to Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, recovered the bodies and deposited the corpses at Gbajimba general hospital.
Meanwhile, troops of OPWS has rescued eight kidnapped victims in Benue state.
According to a statement Mr. Nathaniel Ikyur, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, on Saturday, February 19th, 2022, rescued eight persons from kidnappers den.
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The rescued locals who hail from Agasha town in Guma local government area were kidnapped on their farms by herdsmen on Wednesday, February 16th, 2022.
They had spent over three days with their abductors before their rescue.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Lt. Col Paul Hemba, rtd, who briefed the Governor on the successful rescue operation explained that the gallantry of troops who made contact with the kidnappers at Gbekyor led to an exchange of gunfire with the perpetrators and over powered them.
He maintained that the superior fire power of the soldiers overwhelmed the kidnappers who fled in disarray, leaving behind the kidnapped victims.
Those rescued by the soldiers include 56 year-old Philip Akpage, Aondokula Ijah, 30, Mrs Kwadoo Takada, 60; Mrs Kwakuma Asongu, 55; Mrs Agnes Ornguze, 54; Mrs Yanguchan Tiv, 45; Mrs Kwadoo Mtomga, 45 and Mrs Mnembe Terlumum who is 30 years old.
The statement said the victims have been reunited with their families.