(Photo used for illustrative purpose).
At least 13 people have been killed in two separate attacks on Agatu and Gwer West Local Government Areas of Benue State by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia.
The attackers struck Egwuma village in Agatu LGA on Sunday, killing 12 people without provocation.
In a similar incident, herdsmen attacked villagers who were returning from their farms in Gwer West LGA on Sunday evening, killing one person, injuring another, and leaving five missing.
Lawmaker Godwin Edoh, representing Agatu State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, confirmed the incident and expressed frustration over the government's inaction.
According to the report by The Sun Newspaper on Monday, he urged the government to take decisive action to address the killings, which have left many villages deserted and residents displaced.
Edoh lamented that peace has eluded his people, most of whom are now IDPs living in camps.
He called on the government to match words with action to restore peace to the area.
He said, "It's so porous. The Ogbumogbo, Ejima and all those areas down to Ikpele, those villages have been deserted for close to one year.
"What they do is that, they come over with their cattle from morning and they stay there to graze until they want to go back. They come back there when they want because the people have left the villages and the government has done nothing about it."
A youth leader, Cheghza Igbasue, who escaped the attack in Gwer West LGA, reported that the incident occurred at Tse Iyo in Sengev Council Ward.