BY Idibia Gabriel
Bandits suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have reportedly invaded Ipoya -Ogege in Edumoga, in Idoma area of Benue South, Benue State, and chased inhabitants from their farms.
An aged male farmer, Mr. Ude Oche, who could not run like others was reportedly caught and severely beaten to a state of coma, and injured by the assailants who came with sorphiscated weapons.
According to our source, Sunday Oche who spoke on phone, elder Ude Oche luckily escaped been beaten to death due to quick intervention of villagers who received information of the invasion by those who earlier escaped the bandits.
Sunday Oche said all the bandits fled on hearing villagers’ motorcycle sound coming toward the plantation area of farms, a bit far from the Main Ipoya villages.
He also said that bicycles belonging to the three men that saw them and ran away were taken away by the bandits during the incident occurred Thursday last week, around 8: 8:30- 9am, when the villagers went to farm to harvest their produce.
Most villagers especially women, children and elderly people have reportedly fled to neighbouring villages and bushes for fears of repeat attackers by the bandits, when incident was reported.
The source recounted series of attacked and killings, and lamented that they were yet to recover two bodies of the three persons killed in the past by the bandits.
He also revealed that some persons were murdered in some neighboring villages in the past.
It was however, reported that a baby cattle was found dead in the area for grazing into a farmers farm crops, on that unfaithful day.
Accordingly, he said even though, the Senator representing Benue Zone c, Sen. Abba Moro and the chairman Okpokwu LG, had on several occasions been informed of the ugly development, but did nothing much because they’re tired of fruitless efforts made previous.
Recalled that the prohibition or ban on grazing of cattle is still enforced in Benue state.
