Gunmen alleged to be herdsmen have attacked and killed two members of the livestock guard in Logo Local Government Area of Benue state.
Our correspodent gathered that the incident took place between 1p.m and 2p.m on Monday.
The Chairman of Logo local government area, Mr. Joseph Anawa, told journalists on the phone that “the livestock guards went and arrested two Fulani herdsmen with their cattle who were grazing openly and were taking them to Ugba, headquarters of Logo LGA.
“These other two young men that were killed by the militia herdsmen were lagging behind and were ambushed by the herdsmen, who slaughtered them.
“Their corpses were then removed by the Civil Defense in the area between 4p.m and 5p.m and taken to Ugba and handed over to the Police in Ugba who later deposited them at the mortuary.
Meanwhile, the Commander, Benue State Livestock Guards, Mr. Linus Zaki, has confirmed that “herdsmen attacked and killed two of our men near Ayilamo in Logo local government area of Benue State.”
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Zaki in a press statement made available to journalists in Makurdi, said “Yesterday being the 6th of July, 2020, information was received that herders had brought in cattle and were openly grazing in Logo. Some of the Guards moved to the said location and met some young herders with cows destroying people’s farms.
“The Guards impounded the cows and were taking the animals and the herders with them according to the law when they were attacked by armed herdsmen militia and two of the Guards Aondohemba and Gbaior were shot and killed on the spot by the armed herders.
“This happened before Agro Rangers of Civil Defence Corps who were alerted could get to the scene of the incident.
“As a law abiding organization, we have handed the arrested young herders; Shaibu Hussaini and Kadiri Zakari to police for prosecution.”
Mr. Zaki who condemned strongly the unprovoked attack on his men said the Benue State Livestock Guards do not carry arms. “Our job is to protect the investments of both farmers and livestock owners. That is the mandate the Benue State Government has given to us through the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.
“Therefore, anyone who takes up arms against us is a lawless group. While we will not seek violent revenge, the long arms of the law will certainly catch up with those who killed two of our men in Logo,” Zaki said.