Labour Party Ward Chairman Killed in Benue Ambush by Suspected Herdsmen

The Labour Party Chairman for Igumale Ward 1 in Ado Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Mr. Sunday Oche, has been tragically killed by suspected armed herdsmen. The incident occurred in Igumale on Monday as Oche was returning from his farm with five companions, who managed to escape with serious injuries.

According to a close friend of the deceased, who wished to remain anonymous, the group was ambushed by the herdsmen around 4:30 p.m. “They were six of them who went to the farm on two motorbikes. They were coming back around 4:30 p.m. when they ran into the ambush of armed herdsmen who are all over the place in Ado LGA,” the source stated.

The attackers reportedly flagged down the group before immediately shooting Oche, who died on the spot. The others in the group attempted to flee, sustaining injuries in the process but ultimately escaping the ambush.

Local youths, upon hearing of the attack, mobilized to the scene but found that the assailants had already fled, leaving behind Oche’s lifeless body. The deceased, who is survived by his wife and two children, is set to be buried on Thursday, September 5, 2024.

The Benue State Labour Party Publicity Secretary, Tersoo Orbunde, confirmed the incident, saying, “He is a Ward Chairman from Igumale, Sunday Oche. He went to his cassava farm and he was attacked and killed. They have brought the corpse back.”

The matter has been reported to the police, although the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, stated that she had yet to receive information on the incident. Meanwhile, the five injured individuals are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.