Violence has again erupted in some parts of the country as 18 firewood sellers were killed by suspected Boko Haram members in Borno State.
Some 16 were said to have been killed in Benue about the same time.
‘The Punch’ reports that the 18 persons were slaughtered around Koshebe, in Jere Local Government Area of the troubled state.
A police officer who worked in one of the Divisional Police Offices in Jere, speaking anonymously to our correspondent, revealed that 10 corpses were evacuated from the scene of the attack to Maiduguri.
A source was quoted as saying, “There was an attack and ambush on firewood sellers who had gone to the bush to fetch their products by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Koshebe general area of Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
“Eighteen dead bodies were seen at the scene of the attacks, but as it is, only 10 dead bodies were recovered and evacuated so far by our security forces in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force.
“The remaining eight dead bodies were yet to be evacuated due to inaccessibility of the area.”
Meanwhile, suspected herdsmen also on Wednesday killed 16 persons at Ebete community in Usha Ward of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to ‘The Nation’, two others were injured in the incident said to have happened around 1 am when the residents were fast asleep.
The Acting Chairman of the local government, Alhaji Oyigocho, also confirmed the incident.
The council chairman said he had visited Ebete community with some council members in company of security agencies.
Also, the Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, said armed bandits invaded the area.
He said the command had not ascertained the number of casualties.
Yekini said: “I received a report this afternoon (yesterday) that some people were killed in Agatu by suspected armed bandits. I’m not sure of the number of casualty yet, but I don’t think it’s up to 16.
“We have sent a patrol team to the general area where the incident happened. Although it is in Benue, but it can better be accessed through Loko in Nasarawa State.”
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom was quoted as describing the incident as unfortunate and condemnable.
Ortom, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said, “Yes, I can confirm that the governor of Benue State met earlier today with the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bishi, and he confirmed that there was an attack in Ebete in Agatu earlier today in which 17 persons were killed by suspected armed herdsmen.
“We feel that this is unfortunate because the governor has raised the alarm that some persons, for political reasons, were planning to unleashed armed herdsmen on innocent Benue people to cause fear in the people for political gains,” he said.
