Two persons have been murdered while several others were declared missing from their farms after suspected armed herdsmen ambushed the Onipi community of Adoka in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The alleged armed herders were reported to have surrounded the community, on Tuesday afternoon, and began an assault on the victims in their farms.
A witness who wished to be anonymous said, after assassinating the victims in their farms, the herdsmen also set yam barns and a mini truck transporting tubers of yam from the farms ablaze.
The source added that "it was a shocking attack because the people had no problem with them. No one can tell why they are doing this to our innocent farmers, who toil day and night to produce for their families and to sell for sustenance.
Currently, two people have been confirmed dead while many others are missing, but the search for them is ongoing and we hope that they will be found alive.
Based on our investigations, the invaders must have come through neighboring Apa LGA, where they have been ambushing many villages in recent times".
Alfred Omakwu, Caretaker Chairman of Otukpo LGA, confirmed the incident. He said that apart from the two deaths, several properties were also destroyed by the herders.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Benue state police command, SP Catherine Anene, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
