Herdsmen Attack Benue Monarch, Rape Wife, 2 In-Laws

Rampaging herdsmen in the early hours of Thursday attacked Mbanyiar community and chased the acting District Head of Mbawa in Guma local government area of Benue state, Tyoor Oliver Chado away from his house.

The herdsmen, who were said to be heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, also reportedly raped the traditional ruler’s wife, two of his in-laws and destroyed crops stored in the barn.

Tyoor Oliver Chado, who spoke to newsmen on the development, said the herdsmen last week also invaded the area and killed domestic animals, including goats, pigs and chicken and took others away.

He said the herdsmen, numbering eleven, attacked his home around 2 am but he was able to escape alive from the attack.

According to him, his wife and two of his in-laws were not that lucky as they were tortured and raped by the marauding herdsmen who also destroyed his farm crops.

“Since the incident happened, I have not seen my wife and the two other in-laws, but the Livestock Guard who have gone to the area told me they were tortured and raped, but not killed.

“I have reported the matter to the police and sent transport to go and convey them back to Daudu where I am now taking refuge,” he stated.

He further said the herdsmen also uprooted their cassava and used the melon and yam from his barn to feed their animals.

“The herdsmen are settled in Uvir in Mbabai, and they usually come from there to attack our people. When they came last week, they chased away my people at Tse-Agudu and settled there. Tse-Agudu is less than a kilometre from my house,” he added.

But when contacted the police public relations officer, Benue state Command Catherine Sewuese Anene, said she was yet to receive the report.