Benue assembly members escape death after deadly gunmen attack

Five members of the Benue State House of Assembly Thursday night escaped death by the whisker as they were ambushed by gunmen suspected to be armed herders.

The incident, according to the report happened around 10 pm at Tyomu in Gwer Local Goverment Area of the state.

The members of the assembly were reported to be returning to Makurdi, the state capital when they were ambushed by the gunmen.

However, some motorists were reportedly caught up in the attack that happened along the Gboko/Makurdi highway.

The affected members attacked include the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, Chief Whip, Ipusu Bemdoo, Samuel Jiji of Logo State Constituency, Simon Gabo of Mata State Constituency and Cephas Dyaku.

Chairman, House Committee on Information and Orientation, Elias Audu who confirmed the attack said that the assembly members were attacked by suspected armed herders who rode on motorcycles.

He said, “Yesterday (Thursday) 23, May 2024 by 10 pm honourable members of the 10th Benue State House of Assembly were returning from Katsina-Ala after a public hearing on a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Benue State Civil Protection Guards and for purposes connected therewith

“Suspected herders numbering more than forty on motorcycles ambushed them at Tyomu and shot severally at the vehicles conveying members.

“Benue state House of Assembly has condemned in strong terms the attack on residents of Tyomu and Mbakera in Gwer Local Government Area.

“Honourable members who were attacked include Majority Leader Saater Tiseer, Chief Whip Hon Ipusu Bemdoo, Hon Samuel Jiji of Logo, Hon Simon Gabo of Mata state constituency and Rt Hon Cephas Dyaku.”

The lawmaker also said that residents of the Tyomu community and Mbakera have also been invaded by these suspected herders for several days unchallenged.

He expressed the concern of the Speaker of the assembly, Aondona Dajoh over the constant attacks on innocent people of the state and the latest attack on members of the assembly on a day of public hearing on a security bill.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene could not be reached as calls made to her cellphone rang out.

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