Fulani Herdsmen Kill Benue DPO

Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday laid seige on Makurdi – Naka road for several hours and shot to death, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Naka Police station, Gwer-West Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, SP Mamud Abubakar.

Daily Independent reports that the DPO was traveling along the Makurdi – Naka road on Tuesday when the herdsmen struck.

Even though the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue state command, SP Sewuese Anene confirmed the death of the police officer, details on circumstances that led to his death remain hazy as at press time.

She however promised that “Details will follow soon, please.”

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However, other sources told us that the
herdsmen had blocked the route for some undisclosed number of hours before carrying out the act.

The source said, “The DPO Naka division has just been reported killed a few kilometres to Naka town by persons suspected to be (herdsmen) militia.”

Daily Independent further gathered that as at the time of compiling this report at about 5:52pm, the high command of the police in Makurdi was in a meeting and may come out with a full detail of what transpired during the attack.

Meanwhile, at the time of publishing this report, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, had confirmed the incident.

He said, “It is true that the DPO was killed; he was going for peace escort and they cleared the road for him. On his way to Naka they laid ambush for him.”

It was gathered that between Sunday and Tuesday, five other people were killed by suspected herders in some communities in the council.

The Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Ayande Andrew, claimed that the DPO was killed by herders.

He said, “The road was blocked by herdsmen and the DPO was on his way to Makurdi when they ambushed him; he was the only person in the vehicle along that road.”

On the other five victims, he said, “Someone was killed this morning (Tuesday) at the Tsenge village by herdsmen and another four people were killed at Babowa community on Sunday.”