Scores injured as fresh attacks reported in Benue communities

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- Suspected gunmen have hit Benue communities in a fresh attack

- The attack occurred on Thursday, February 8

- Several people were said to have been injured while other fled the communities after the attack

Suspected gunmen on Thursday night, February 8, reportedly attacked villages around Anyiin, a major town in Logo Local Government Area of Benue state.

Premium Time reports that the local government serves as a base for special forces and has one of the biggest IDP camps.

NAIJ.com gathered that the residents in Anyiin reported heavy gunshots from attacks in nearby villages Thursday night, February 8.

It was gathered that at least five persons were in critical condition from gunshot wounds in the attacks by suspected herdsmen, according to residents accounts.

Four residents informed Premium Times in separate exchanges that residents in Anyiin are panicked and are on the run.

Residents said Nigerian soldiers who were alerted about the attacks brought five villagers who were critically wounded to the hospital in Anyiin.

“They’re at NKST Hospital now in Anyiin, "Terkura Suswam, a politician and founder of Ashi Polytechnic in Anyiin, told Premium Times by telephone.

One of the villages is Tsukwa, which was among those attacked on January 1. The village recorded up to 10 casualties in that attack, according to residents who spoke with Premium Times two weeks ago.

Tsukwa is about a mile from Anyiin, which has a police special forces unit and one of the biggest camps for the internally displaced persons in Benue state.

The commander of the special forces, Ibrahim Ignatius, told Premium Times he was not aware of the attack because he is in Makurdi, the state capital.

The divisional police officer of Anyiin division, Celestine Utim, said he was trying to find out what is going on.

Another Anyiin resident who confirmed the attack to was Alijah Auna, the secretary of the IDP camp there.

“Yes, they’ve been attacking villages around Anyiin this night,” Auna said. “Many people at the camp here have started running away.”

“But I am still at the camp,” he added.

It was not immediately clear the number of villages that were attacked Thursday night.

Witnesses said the attackers had fled before soldiers arrived at some of the villages.

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Scores of villagers were killed in the January 1 attacks in Logo LGA. Survivors have remained largely at various IDP camps in the local government because their villages are still not safe for their return, despite the police’s assertions that the areas had been secured.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that the Edo state government banned night grazing in the state to avert further herdsmen/farmers clashes. The ban also prohibits the carrying of guns by herdsmen while taking care of their herds.

Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers - on NAIJ.com TV