Gunmen attack Benue communities, kill 18

About 18 villagers have been reportedly killed after gunmen attacked Ukohol and three other villages in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Chairman of the local government, Michael Uba, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Friday, said 10 persons were killed in the market while eight others were killed in three other villages.

He said the gunmen were dressed in black attires and shot sporadically at innocent marketers.

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“Around 4 to 5 pm, my people at Ukohol were attacked by armed herders and about 10 people were killed.

“The worst of it all is that they even killed children below the age of two years.

“They didn’t stop at that point but went to three other villages/settlements around and killed another eight making it a total of 18; 10 at the market, eight in the villages when they were running back”, he said.

While noting that the casualties would have been more, Uba said the security operatives were prompt in responding to their call and that saved the day.

“If they delayed, the causality would have been more than that. It was a market day; they went there and started shooting.

“What is happening now is that they are trying to destabilise people from their village and settlements and occupy them and graze in the night.

“They appeared in black attires. No villages were spared and the whole 10 council wards in Guma are affected”, he said.

Spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident, said she was yet to get details.

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