Gunmen attack Benue communities, kill ‘14 residents, two soldiers’

Gunmen have reportedly killed 14 residents and two soldiers during an attack on two communities in Apa LGA of Benue state.

Confirming the attack to TheCable on Wednesday, Bala Peter, a resident of Apa, said the incident occurred at about 6:30 pm on Tuesday.

Peter said the gunmen stormed two communities of Opaha and Odogbo and started killing residents.

He said 14 corpses were found as of 7 am on Wednesday, adding that many others have been reported missing.

“There was a serious attack. It happened at about 6:30 p.m. yesterday. As of 7 this morning, about 14 corpses were recovered and there are so many people that are yet to be found,” he said.

“A soldier commander and one of his boys were killed during the attack and they took the gun of the commander. It happened at Opaha and Odogbo communities in Apa LGA.

“The security agencies are yet to take any action. The gunmen even attempted to penetrate other communities in Apa but the youths were ready for them, so they couldn’t penetrate them.

“A lot of people were displaced, and many women fled their communities after seeing many corpses. We are waiting and hoping that the government will intervene in the situation in our communities urgently. We are farmers, we have nothing else to do apart from farming and now that they have penetrated our houses, we can’t even go to our farms again.”

Anene Sewuese, the police spokesperson in the state, also confirmed the attack.

“I just called the area command now and I was told there was an attack but they don’t have details for me now until they are done with that operation. It is confirmed,” Sewuese said.

On April 7, several residents were reportedly killed by gunmen in an attack on Umogidi village in Otukpo LGA of Benue, while about 30 were killed in Gum LGA.