Suspected herdsmen killed a health officer in Ikobi, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday morning, severed his head and fled with it, residents said.
The victim, Ojoma Emie, was a father of three who lived in Oloke, Ikobi. Source learnt that Emie was returning from Ugbokpo town where he had gone to purchase medicine when the attackers ambushed him at Ugbobi Junction. The location, along the Ikobi-Olegogba axis of the Ikobi-Ugbokpo road, is notorious for repeated attacks by armed herders, according to residents.
Sources said the assailants macheted Emie to death, cut off his head and carried it away, leaving his headless body in a pool of blood. The corpse was later found by residents of the community.
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Vice President of the Ikobi Progressive Forum, Dr. Edoh Ofugocho, said residents panicked after hearing multiple gunshots. “Our people heard gunshots about 10 to 15 times. People immediately became apprehensive because they knew he was on his way to Ugbokpo to buy medicine. Later, it was discovered that he had been attacked and killed at Ugbobi Junction,” he said.
Ofugocho added that Emie served as a community health worker and was married with children before his death. He lamented that Ikobi had suffered repeated attacks by suspected herdsmen with little protection from authorities.
“We are deeply worried that this particular route has become a recurring ambush point for suspected herdsmen. Our people can no longer travel freely on roads within their own communities,” he said. “The manner in which he was killed is heartbreaking. After taking his life, the attackers severed his head and fled with it. This level of brutality is difficult to comprehend.”
The deceased has since been buried. Ofugocho called on security agencies and the Benue State Government to urgently secure the area and bring those responsible to justice.
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