Fulani Herdsmen kill 3-month-old baby, others in Benue

A three-month-old infant, a couple and one other were yesterday afternoon, reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen at Ulevkaa community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The event came less than 48 hours after an identical assault on that axis led to the death of two aide workers and six others, comprising a kinsman of Governor Samuel Ortom.

According to an eyewitness, unknown to commuters, the armed militia herdsmen had taken over the Uikpam-Umenger -Gbajimba road waiting for unsuspecting victims.

He said: “They saw a commercial Toyota Picnic vehicle heading towards Gbajimba, they pretended to be passengers and waved at the car. When the driver became suspicious of them he increased his speed and made effort to flee.

“But the others who hid in front saw that the driver was making effort to run away with his passengers from the trap, they opened fire on the vehicle.

“A bullet hit the three-month-old baby on the chest and scattered his ribs. One of the bullets also hit the mother on the lap.

“The driver managed to escape with the passengers, unfortunately the baby died on the way before reaching the hospital in Daudu but the mother survived.

“Angered by the failed operation, the armed herders waited for other victims. One of them was identified as one Terver and his wife, who they seized and slaughtered and their remains dumped by the roadside.

“Also, a firewood seller identified as Solomon Kumaiin, who was on a motorbike was also shot and killed by the armed herders.”

According to the eyewitness, on noticing what was happening, the driver of another vehicle that was directly behind the Toyota quickly reserved and drove straight to a nearby Uikpam village that is home to an IDP camp and a military checkpoint to report the matter.

“The soldiers quickly mobilised and went to the scene of the attack. The attackers had already fled but they conveyed some of the victims to a clinic in Daudu,” he said.

Vanguard gathered that the remains of the victims had been deposited at a mortuary in Daudu where all the injured were receiving treatment.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive details of the incident.