A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, James Akase, and three other residents have been killed in fresh, coordinated attacks by suspected armed herders in Guma and Gwer West Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Akase, who previously served as the PDP chairman in Tse-Defam, Mba’akov Vengav, Avihijime Council Ward of Gwer West LGA, was reportedly shot dead on Monday afternoon.
According to local sources, he had returned to his ancestral home to retrieve food for his displaced family when he was ambushed and gunned down. The community, which had earlier been taken over by the assailants, remains unsafe for returnees.
In a separate but seemingly simultaneous incident, three other individuals were killed in Guma LGA.
The attackers struck in Tse Ikpe Ago, along the Yogbo-Gyungu Aze road in Mbayer/Yandev Council Ward, and at Tse Kologa in Mbagune, Nyiev Council Ward.
Public affairs analyst, Samuel Aondohemba, condemned the violence, describing it as "coordinated and unprovoked."
He noted that several victims sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals across the state.
“These senseless killings are yet another painful reminder of the unending bloodshed our people in Benue State continue to endure,” Aondohemba lamented.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Victor Ormin, said Akase was killed while on a food-sourcing mission at his farm.
He added that another individual kidnapped on the same day was later released after the payment of ransom.
As of the time of filing this report, state authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest wave of violence.