Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have killed a Deeper Life Church Pastor, John Ajav, and three others, following a fresh separate attacks on communities in Guma Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State.
It was learnt that Pastor Ajav was shot and killed by the herdsmen at at Waku village while heading to Gbajimba, the LGA Headquarters, for a church programme on Tuesday morning.
The incident was confirmed by Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom’s Chief of Staff, Dr Tivlumun Nyitse, who is from the area.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, Dr Nyitse said, “It’s a very sad day for me and the entire Ikyen Gbuusu Family. We lost Pastor John Torbee Ajav this morning to some Fulani marauders who shot him on his way to Gbajimba to attend a religious function.
“The late John was a Pastor with the Deeper Life Church, Umenger. May the good Lord receive his soul with mercy.”
It was also learnt that the three other persons were murdered in their farms at Nyiev Council Ward in the same Guma LGA.
Their killers were said to have fled back to the neighbouring Nasarawa State after murdering them.
It was learnt that the bandits have been launching a series of attacks on Benue communities in recent time from Nasarawa.
The Chairman of Guma LGA, Mr Caleb Abah, confirming the killings decried the incessant attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen in the LGA, saying that the three farmers were killed on their farm while harvesting locust beans for sale on the next market day.
He said, “The Pastor was shot and killed at Waku village while on his way to a Church programme in Gbajimba from Umenge community.
It is again a sad day for us in Guma. These terrorists have continued to attack and kill our people for no reason whatsoever.”
The state police is yet to speak on the fresh attacks.
