Fulani militia kill school principal, four others in Benue

Suspected Fulani militia killed five persons including a school principal, Mr. Sam Wayo, in the ancestral home of the immediate past governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Tuesday.

Wayo’s brother, Mr. Msugh Lim, was also among the people killed. The victims were killed around 5.30pm.

According to our reliable source, the school principal and his brother were slaughtered by the Fulani militia in the vicinity of Akombo village, close to Anyim, the home town of the former governor.

The other three victims were also captured in the area.

Meanwhile, the state Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy soldiers to the flash-points in the state to curb the incessant attacks and killings in the state by the herdsmen.

According to sources, the suspected Fulani herdsmen were said to have hidden themselves in a church building at Akombo village, near Anyim, home town of ex-governor Suswam.

The source said , ‘’The invaders hid in the Church premises at NKST Tyogbihi (Tiza) after the night’s operation at Akombo village, near Anyiin, where they killed the principal, his brother and three other people. They also wounded many others.

“They died on the spot within the Church premises where they were shot by the Fulanis herdsmen. Late Sam Wayo is due to retire from the service very soon.”

In the incident on Monday, the source hinted that sporadic shooting by Fulani militants were first heard about 910pm on Monday.

The source added that residents of Agbenge, Kwagh Agule, Tyoban, Tse Yough and Gemana villages were throughout the night running for safety in the bush.

‘”The invaders crossed at the abandoned Mobile Police barracks to launch this attack. This area is one of the settlements harbouring many internally displaced persons from the neighbouring communities of Turan, Tombo, Ukemberagya and Tswarev council wards in Gaambe-Tiev Logo LGA,” he said.

The source added that so far, scores have been missing while many were wounded.

“This attack is a sustained assault on the Logo people by the Fulani herdsmen,” another source said.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer,  ASP Moses Yamu, said two persons were killed in the early attack on Tuesday in Logo.

Meanwhile, Abounu, who spoke to newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday said, “What we are passing through now is an emergency situation, which if not urgently nipped in the bud, may become a full blown war.”

The deputy governor regretted the despite constant attacks in the state. “The Federal Government has not taken definite step on the matter,” he said.

He therefore called on the government at the national level to urgently arrest the situation before it assumes a frightening dimension.