Angry youths from Tse Orjime Community in Benue State stormed the residence of their representative in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Alfred Berger, depositing three corpses of locals killed in a herdsmen attack.
The tragic incident occurred in Orjime, a community under Agan in the Mbalagh Council Ward of Makurdi Local Government Area.
The attack by armed herders took place just days after Tiv traditional rulers issued an eviction notice to herdsmen in the region.
Confirming the development, Hon. Berger recounted the tense moment when the bodies were brought to his home.
“Armed herdsmen attacked my people and killed three persons on their farms.
“The three corpses of those killed in the attack were brought to my house by angry youths who almost burnt down my house and my children, who were at home at the time,” the lawmaker stated.
He lamented that despite his ongoing efforts to maintain peace in the area since his election, the deadly attack shattered the fragile calm.
“Since I was elected, we have made sure that there is relative peace in our area until the unfortunate incident of Thursday,” Berger added.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying they received information about the attack around 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Chief Superintendent Catherine Anene, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, said police teams immediately responded and pursued the attackers into the bush.
“Simultaneously, the youths of the area mobilized themselves and were attempting to burn down the residence of Mr. Alfred Berger, the lawmaker representing the area in the State House of Assembly. But they were also resisted by the police,” she noted.
She further disclosed that the three corpses were recovered from the scene and taken to the General Hospital, North Bank, while investigations into the attack are ongoing.