The police in Benue state say they have arrested eight herdsmen over the death of 10 persons and seven livestock guards in Guma and Logo local government areas of the state.
Moses Yamu, police public relations officer in the state, announced this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“Eight herdsmen, six in Guma and two in Logo, had been arrested in connection with the attacks,” the police spokesman said.
He added that the command had made additional deployments in the troubled area to forestall further occurrence and restore confidence of the people.
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Yamu said the situation in the two local government areas had been brought under control while investigation was ongoing.
“They attacked Tomater village in Sengev council ward, Akor village in Nzorov council ward and Bakin Kwata village in Umanger council ward of Guma LGA,” he said.
“Among those killed were seven (7) members of Benue State Livestock Guards, their vehicle burnt and an uncertain number of persons injured in separate attacks between 31/12/2017 and 02/01/2018.
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“Again, Agba-Uko near Azege village and Tse-Aga village of Logo LGA experienced the same fate, where one person was killed, one motorcycle burnt and four persons injured.
“All the injured from both LGAs are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the state.”
According to him, five combined teams of mobile and conventional policemen engaged the armed herdsmen in a gun duel in Guma.
On Tuesday, Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, said 20 people were killed in the attacks.
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The Benue Anti-Open Grazing law came into effect on November 1, 2017, to forestall attacks on Benue communities.
The law stipulates a five-year jail term or an option of N1 million fine for violators.
The attack is the first by suspected herdsmen since the law came into effect.
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