The Chairman of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, Sunday Oche, has cried out over what he described as “relentless and coordinated attacks” by armed herdsmen on communities in the council, leaving several residents injured and dispossessed.

Speaking to journalists in Makurdi, Oche detailed a two-day rampage across the Ijigban, Ulayi, and Utonkon communities, during which the attackers ambushed mourners, inflicted severe machete wounds on victims, and stole property.

The most recent and tragic incident occurred between Saturday and Sunday when a group of mourners conveying a corpse from a mortuary in Igumale to Ulayi were ambushed by the armed herders.

Oche said: “These attackers descended on innocent mourners. They macheted two of our illustrious sons, Philip Okpekwu and Dr. Benedict Ogaba, and even went away with their motorcycle. It was a tragic and heartless assault.”

He confirmed that Okpekwwu, who sustained severe injuries, was initially rushed to Igumale General Hospital but had to be transferred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, on Monday due to his critical condition.

“Just this morning, I received a report that Philip Okpekwu is now bleeding from his nose. His condition remains critical,” the chairman disclosed.

In addition to the ambush on mourners, Oche confirmed a separate incident in Utonkon on Sunday where herders attacked farmers, though the herders were later apprehended and agreed to pay compensation for the destroyed crops.

The council chairman said his team and local security personnel had pursued the attackers toward the Akparata axis of Ulayi and were mounting surveillance to prevent further incursions.

However, he warned that the attacks are “taking a new and dangerous dimension” and called for immediate assistance from the federal and state governments.

Oche appealed for the urgent deployment of additional security personnel to the vulnerable communities to check the continuous incursions.

When contacted for comment by Vanguard, the Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, said she would respond but had not done so at press time.