Four persons, including a pastor of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, were reportedly killed in separate attacks on some communities in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

Two women were reportedly shot dead by suspected herders on their farm on Monday.

The Deeper Life pastor, identified as John Ajav, was said to have been killed on Tuesday by suspected herders on his way to the local government headquarters at Gbamjinba to attend a religious function.

The pastor’s murder was made known on the verified Facebook account of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Tivlumn Nyitse, on Tuesday.

Nyitse wrote, “A very sad day for me and the entire Ikyen Gbuusu family. We lost John Torbee Ajav this morning to some Fulani marauders, who shot him on his way to Gbajimba to attend a religious function.

“The late John was a pastor with the Deeper Life Bible Church, Umenger. May the Lord receive his soul with mercy.”

Confirming the killings, Chairman, Guma Local Government Area, Caleb Aba, said there were separate attacks where four people were killed between Monday and Tuesday.

Aba stated, “On Monday, three persons – two females and a man – went to harvest locust beans on their farm at Nyivir and were shot.

“Also this morning (Tuesday), a pastor, who was going to Gbamjinba, was killed around Waku village.”

Efforts to confirm the two incidents from the state police command were not successful as calls put across to the Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, rang out and she did not respond to messages sent to her mobile telephone.

Punch