Gov.Suswam Escapes Death As Gunmen Open Fire On His Convoy During HisVisit To Guma LG.

Benue State Governor Dr Gabriel Suswam narrowly escaped death on tuesday as suspected fulani herdsmen shot at his convoy.
Governor Suswam was in Guma local government to assess the security situation arising from the Tiv -Fulani crisis.

According to an aide who accompanied Governor Suswam on the trip, the journey from Makurdi- to Guma local government was smooth until he arrived at Tse' Akenyi,the junction leading to Torkula village.




Some fulani herdsmen with cattle sighted his convoy and immediately opened fire.

" They shot massively at Suswam's convoy, his security details returned fire and repelled the attackers who were armed with sophisticated weapon,

said the aide who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak.

Governor Suswam , was said to have continued his journey to Gbajimba, administrative head quarters of Guma local government area, where he assessed the security situation and addressed internally displaced persons .

After the attack,he continued his visit to all the settlements destroyed by suspected fulani herdsmen in Guma local government area.

Addressing some of the displaced,at Gbajimba, the governor said every thing possible will be done , so that they can return to their homes.

He said invaders will not take over their ancestral land.He urged them to exercise patience as government will soon send relief materials them.

At Ukpam village , the entire settlement of over 400,000 was razed down, as decomposed corpse littered all over the farming community.

The Governor recovered about 6 corpses and move them to Makurdi.




A journalist who was on the governor's convoy told The Nation on phone from Gbajimba that, it was a lucky escape as they had a close shave with death.




" It was serious ambushed and gun fire ,even the govenor was shaken" said another journalist"

At press time, Governor Suswam was still going round affected settlements which have been completely destroyed and deserted.

Ukpam, Waku, Torkula, Kaseyo villages are the worst hit areas in Guma local government area,in the ongoing fulani attacked on Tiv settlements.






Sent by Emmanuel Uja