Five timber dealers have been killed while 10 others are missing in an attack by suspected herdsmen at Udei in Guma local government area of Benue State.
The incident happened on Monday evening, June 20.
It was gathered that the 15 timber dealers had gone into the forest in Udei to load the wood when the armed herders attacked them.
Confirming the attack on Tuesday, the chairman of Guma local government, Caleb Aba, said that the herders might have laid an ambush for the dealers.
“The incident happened yesterday (Monday) evening when some commercial timber dealers went to fetch their timber from the forest. They have loaded the timber and were on their way back when they were attacked. They were 15 in number,” he said.
“So far, five corpses have been recovered, the others (10 people) have not been seen, whether they have been killed or taken away, I cannot say but they are being searched for as I am talking to you now,” he added.
Three of the victims have been identified as Igbadio Dookaan, Ukor IgbatoorTsebee and Kwaghji.
Earlier on Tuesday, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Chairman, Guma local government area Hon. Uyina Jerome, the Guma Council Chairman-elect Dr. Ubah Mike, wife of Commissioner land and solid minerals Benue State Mrs Unenge Ann, Hon. Anongu Moses Assistant Legal Adviser Benue State PDP, Hon. Cuba Datso Youth leader PDP Makurdi local government area and others paid a condolence visit to the family of Dookaan Igbadio who was killed in the attack.
