Gunmen kill Church leader, three others in fresh Benue attack

A church leader and three others have been killed by herders in a fresh attack in Benue State.

Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State on Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (retd,) confirmed the incident.

Among those killed was Vitalis Kenvanger, a leader of St. Albert Catholic Church, Abata, Yogbo, and a businessman who resided in the area, Dogo Udam.

The duo was waylaid at Gyungu Azer, on the Udei to Yogbo road by their assailants.

Their bodies were recovered at the scene while two others who were also travelling with them, Mr. Iorember Famja and Mama Shiaondo, the wife of Ioryem Ike, were still missing as at press time.

Mama Shiaondo was later released by her abductors but the other had yet to be found.

As of press time, members of his family who spoke with The Guardian could not ascertain whether he was kidnapped or killed.

A search party, organised on Thursday comprising local vigilantes and security personnel, combed the forest but was still unable to locate him.

Although his abductors answered his phone calls, they did not make any demand for ransom, prompting fears of the possibility that he might have been killed.

A relative of the slain church leader, Boniface Igboji, stated: “I spoke with my brother yesterday when we were in Daudu but didn’t know he would depart this earth today through these murderous Fulani jihadists.”

He said that the killers of his relative answered his phone calls and told the family that their brother was dead.

Another farmer, Mr. Iorpev Terngu, was also macheted to death on his farm at Tse Atsem, Borikyo village in Ukum Local Council.

In another earlier attack at Ukohol village located about four kilometres to Yelwata, along the Makurdi-Lafia road, suspected herdsmen broke into the home of a resident, William Tyough, tied his hands behind his back, slaughtered him, and burnt his motorcycle.

Both Ukohol, Udei and Yogbo are in the same Nyiev ward as Yelwata where over 200 were recently massacred by herdsmen.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Benue State Police command, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had not been briefed, but promised to call back

Meanwhile, locals have raised the alarm of the influx of mercenaries who are camping around Kadarko railway station, while others were reportedly sighted at Tse Antsa and Umalai.

Both Antsa and Umelai are Tiv settlements under Kwara district in Keana Local Council of Nasarawa State which have been deserted since the killings became intensified. [With The Guardian report]