12042018 - HERDSMEN/FARMERS’ CLASHES: Blame Gaddafi, irresponsible politicians — BUHARI

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018—7
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Attacks on Benue communities
extension of terrorism, says Ortom
By Peter Duru
•...as fresh invasions claim 15
Sorry, Aki. We mean no harm
M AKURDI—GOVERNOR
Samuel Ortom of Benue
State has described herdsmen
attacks on Benue communities as
an extension of terrorism being
perpetrated by Boko Haram in the
North-East.
Governor Ortom was reacting to
the Tuesday night coordinated
attacks on communities in Logo
and Ukum Local Government
areas of the state by suspected
herdsmen, where 15 people,
including a 75-year-old man were
reportedly killed.
He said: “The manner in which
the armed herdsmen invade
communities of the state and
slaughter innocent people is not
different from the mindless acts of
Boko Haram in the North-East.
“They come with sophisticated
weapons and kill people, machete
them and chase them away.”
Governor Ortom said equally
disturbing is the pattern of attacks
by the herdsmen; their trademark
of occupying communities after
killing and sacking the
inhabitants.
His words: “In some cases, they
do not have herds. They just come
with their weapons, kill and chase
the people out and take over the
land: that is the worrisome part of
it.
“The trend of attacks on Benue
is beyond mere grazing of
at his residence.
Asuquo said: “The defendant,
who was always at loggerheads
with his wife, had hit her head on
the wall several times, leading to
her death; he also proceeded to
poison his daughter.”
Asuquo, however, urged the
court to remand the defendant
in prisons custody, pending
legal advice from the Director of
Public Prosecutions, DPP.
In her ruling, Chief
Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye
ordered the defendant
remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons
and adjourned till May 8 for
outcome of DPP advice.
livestock. If the invaders were only
interested in grazing, the massive
destruction of lives and properties
would not have been their priority.”
Vanguard gathered that the
affected communities in the latest
attacks include Gbeji in Ukum
Local Government Area;
Ukemberagya/Tswarev ward,
Channel One community, Orveren
and Ajura villages and Tombo
community in Logo Local
Government Area of the state.
A former aide to the former
governor of Benue State, who is
from one of the affected
communities, said: “It all started
two days ago, but Tuesday evening,
from 6p.m. and 9p.m. was when
the fully-armed herdsmen came
257 die in Algerian military plane crash
down heavily on the affected
communities.
“They went to Gbeji in Ukum
council and had a free day.
They burnt down houses and
killed about eight people in the
community and injured many.
“They did not stop at that; they
came down to Ukemberagya/
Tswarev ward in Logo, at
Channel One community of
Tswarev clan and killed two
people, burnt down houses and
one motorcycle there.
“They came unchallenged
from Tungwa in Nasarawa State
to attack our communities and
after the operation they usually
pulled back or retreat to where
they came from.”
AN Algerian military plane
has crashed near the capital
killing 257 people on board, officials
say.
The aircraft came down just
after taking off from Boufarik
military airport, west of Algiers.
An inquiry is under way into
the cause of the crash - Algeria’s
worst-ever air disaster. The government
has declared three days
of national mourning.
Most of the dead are army personnel
and their families, the
defence ministry says. Ten crew
members also died.
Passengers from Western Sahara,
a disputed territory annexed
by Morocco after Spain withdrew
in 1975, were among the fatalities.
The Polisario Front, which
is seeking independence for
the territory and is backed by
Algeria, says 30 Western Saharans,
including women
and children, died. A senior
member of Algeria’s ruling
FLN party said those killed
included 26 Polisario members.
The plane, an Ilyushin Il-
76, was travelling to Bechar
and Tindouf in the south-west
of the country.
The Tindouf region, which
borders Western Sahara, is
home to refugee camps and
serves as a base for the Polisario
Front.
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