Tragic Attack On Mourners By Herdsmen Leaves One Dead In Benue State

[Esther ogunseemi]

In a sorrowful incident over the weekend, a group of mourners in Edikwu Ankpali, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, was brutally attacked by suspected herdsmen, resulting in the death of one person. The attack has intensified the grief among the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing in Ugbokpo, the headquarters of Apa LGA.

According to local sources, the deceased, identified as Emmanuel from Edikwu Ankpali, was part of a procession of IDPs who had been displaced from their communities by armed herders. The mourners were en route to a burial when they were ambushed on the Amuke Odugbo road.

A youth leader in the area, who wished to remain unnamed, recounted the harrowing events: “The mourners, including several youths and security personnel, were escorting a corpse for burial when they suddenly came under attack. This led to a prolonged exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the attackers.”

Tragically, the violence forced the mourners to retreat to their host community in Ugbokpo, now carrying an additional body—the slain Emmanuel—instead of just the one they intended to bury. The initial corpse was returned to the morgue, unable to be laid to rest as planned, while Emmanuel was promptly buried in Ugbokpo.

The local community has expressed profound sadness and outrage over the attack, which highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by IDPs in the region. The authorities are being urged to step up efforts to protect vulnerable communities and bring those responsible for such attacks to justice