Mike Uba, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Benue State, claimed on Thursday that suspected herdsmen assaulted six towns in the state’s Kwande, Agatu, Gwer-West, Guma, Makurdi, and Logo local government areas.
Uba told media in Makurdi that the assaults occurred concurrently during the last two weeks, and that they began soon after the presidential and National Assembly elections.
He saw that numerous settlements had been abandoned and taken over by herdsmen.
He said, “This is the first time in the history of herders and terrorist attacks in the state that six local governments would be under attacks simultaneously.
“These are Guma, Makurdi, Gwer-West, Kwande, Agatu and some forays in Logo. In the past, attacks would be in two or three; Guma, Gwer-West and Agatu.
“The new dimension speaks volumes of command room coordination and strategy. This is a strategic attempt timed to coincide with the electoral season.”
Uba, who is also the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, has urged the President, Major-General Muhammad Buhari (retd), to safeguard the safety of people and property in the state.
In other news; no fewer than 10 passengers were burnt to death on Oyo-Ogbomoso road on Thursday.
Two buses, a Mazda and a Toyota Hiace had a head on collision and the passengers were burnt beyond recognition.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Ibadan.
The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Joshua Adekanye, said the incident occurred at about 5.30 a.m around Kilometres 12 Ijawaya on Oyo-Ogbomoso road.
He said that the buses with registration numbers LEM 963 XA and NSR 222 ZS were coming from Lagos and Nasarawa states respectively.
Adekanye said that the vehicles went up in flames immediately resulting in the burning of the occupants.
He attributed the cause of the accident to speeding and over loading.
He called on motorists to always shun night travelling, speeding and overloading, adding that the fatality would have reduced if the drivers were not on night journeys.
