Herders kill two livestock guards in Benue

• Attack on our men unprovoked, says commander

Two livestock guards were killed yesterday when gunmen suspected to be herdsmen ambushed and gunned them down in Logo Council of Benue State.

The Guardian gathered that the guards had arrested two Fulani herdsmen for openly grazing in farms and were taking them to Ugba, headquarters of the council, when they were attacked.

Sources, who said the incident took place between 1p.m. and 2p.m., added that the two guards at the rear were the ones affected.

“Bodies of the victims were removed by the Civil Defence in the area between 4p.m. and 5p.m. and taken to the police in Ugba and later taken to the mortuary,” the source said.

Confirming the killing of his men to newsmen, commander of the guards, Linus Zulu, said: “Our men were killed by herdsmen near Ayilamo in Logo Council.

“On July 6, 2020, information was received that herders had brought in cattle and were openly grazing in Logo. Some of the guards moved to the location and met some young herders with cows destroying people’s farms.

“The guards impounded the cows and were taking the animals according to the law when they were attacked by armed herdsmen from behind and two of the guards, Aondohemba and Gbaior, were shot dead.”

He added that as members of a law-abiding organisation, they handed the arrested herders, Shaibu Hussaini and Kadiri Zakari, to police for prosecution.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Benue, DSP Anne Sewuese, said they had received a report about the killing in Logo, but that it was uncertain if the victims were members of the Livestock Guard.