The attack happened not far from the Genocide Cemetery, which was home to 73 herdsmen victims who were killed in 2018.

Governor Samuel Ortom’s former chief of staff, Terwase Orbunde, was ambushed on Friday night by armed individuals who seemed to be herdsmen. His wife and maid were taken hostage after he was shot in the arm.

At approximately six o’clock in the evening, the attack happened near the Genocide Cemetery, which is located along the Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state capital, and is where 73 victims of the 2018 herdsmen killings were buried.

Orbunde fled with a gunshot wound to his right arm as the assailants quickly took Mrs. Abigail Kashimana Orbunde and her maid, Patience Ogute, with them.

Witnesses who wished to remain anonymous report that Orbunde, his spouse, and their maid had gone to check on the weeding of their farm near the road.

They claimed: “Five gunmen ambushed the victims as they were returning to the car after the work was inspected.

“Mister Orbunde was shot in the right arm by one of the herdsmen’s bullets as they ordered him and the women to follow them to a place they did not know.”

According to the witness, the shooting sent bystanders and villagers running in all directions in search of safety.

The former chief of staff was bleeding heavily and could not move fast as they marched. The group leader then gave him the order to leave, and the gunmen took the women to an unidentified location while Good Samaritans took Honorable Orbunde to the hospital, according to one of the witnesses.

Orbunde went to the police station last night to report the incident after suffering a gunshot wound to his right arm, according to Sewuese Anene, the spokesperson for the Benue Police Command.

The spokeswoman confirmed, “Yes, Mister Terwase Orbunde had entered the police station last night complaining of an attack by gunmen on him and the whereabouts of his wife and maid. He had sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm.”

The police moved quickly to the Adeke-Utur area along the mobile barracks road in order to follow the bush path, but they were not able to locate them right away. Their car has been found, and a rescue effort for his family members is still underway.

However, the image creator noted that the police are investigating.