2 POLICEMEN SHOT DEAD IN BENUE

The tragic killings in Benue seem to have taken a deadlier turn as two policemen have been reportedly shot to death in the state. The Agatu region of the state has been a den of violence and deaths in recent week with over 500 people reportedly killed.

Leadership reports that the two policemen were deployed to maintain peace in the region when they were killed by unknown men. Against the backdrop of the killings, the police arrested three cattle rustlers in Guma local government area of the state. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue confirmed the killing at the Peoples House in Makurdi when he was visited by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, and members of the house committee on emergency and disaster preparedness, The governor said the officers were killed by armed men who unleashing terror in the communities.

He said they were Fulani herdsmen who had stolen 330 cattle in Kaduna and bough them to Benue to graze. Mr. Paul Yakadi who is the commissioner of police also confirmed the incidents. He said more officers have been deployed to the affected local government to take charge of the matter. The state has been at the centre of attack purportedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen. Some members of the Benue parliamentary caucus in the House of Representatives raised alarm over bloody attacks of Fulani herdsmen and strongly criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for downplaying the “genocide” happening to the Agatu people in the state.