Tension is high after suspected herdsmen killed five persons on Tuesday night in Ayilamo and Mahanga settlements Tombo ward, Logo Local Government area in Benue State.

The Nation learnt the armed herdsmen launched the attacks on the farming communities around 10.20pm on Tuesday after people settled in their houses.

Apart from the five persons that were killed at the spot, many others sustained various degree of injuries and were referred to Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, from Ayilamo Health Centre, which was overwhelmed with the numbered of casualties.

An eyewitness Tersoo Apera told The Nation on phone that the killer herdsmen launched attacks on Mobile Barracks located on Anyiin- Ayilamo road in Mahanga settlement killed two persons in a thatched house .

They reportedly thereafter moved to Ayilamo, Headquarters of Tombo ward and shot three persons to dead,

On Wednesday morning, Ayilamo Comprehensive Health Centre where the deceaesed and the wounded were brought was over crowded with sympathisers who besieged the clinic to identify their love ones .

The monarch of the area, Chief ( DR) Enoch Ikyumen, who visited Health Centre for first- hand information, appealed to the State and Federal Governments to order security agencies to protect his subjects .

Chief Ikyumen decried the sustained attacks and killing of his people.

There was weeping and wailing as well as tears from relations as their loved ones were moved out of Ayilamo Health Centre for burial .

Ayilamo town, Headquaters of Tombo ward, in Gaambetiev is a farming and fishing community located near Anyiin, on Abinse- Wukari federal highway in Benue state and had been under sustained herdsmen attack since 2016.

Security Adviser to the Governor Chief Joe Har confirmed the attacked and killings.

He identified those killed as: Ayev Jôgunô(Mbavihi—Mbazar); Faiga Mwuese Apefan (Mbazar); Msendoo Tertese Vaachia(Mbagum); James Mhen Nyerga Iorliam(Tse-Ihyôôn—Iwendyer) and Orgbee Mnguerorga(Tse-Nyajo—Mbaiwem).