Six persons have been reported killed by suspected herdsmen in the Okpamaju community of Okete Ward and Asa settlement of Ewulo Ward of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The lawmaker representing the Otukpo-Akpa in the Benue State House of Assembly Kennedy Angbo told Channels Television that three days of sustained attacks in his constituency have left many injured, displaced and communities burnt down.
According to Angbo, the attacks have threatened public peace in the general area, including academic activities at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo where students have been living in fear over attacks on the institution.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State Sewuese Anene confirmed the incident but said two persons were killed on Wednesday.
Anene described the violence as caused by alleged open grazing on a farm in the Okpamaju area of the Okete Ward in Otukpo.
She said the villagers complained about grazing on their farms which subsequently led to the clash that claimed two lives.
Benue State has been under attack by suspected herdsmen in the last decade. The administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia says it has substantially addressed the violence.
But incidents of killing of farmers have continued with most villagers living at the mercy of armed herders.
