‘Many killed’, property destroyed as gunmen attack Benue communities

Multiples attacks by gunmen in Benue communities have reportedly claimed several lives, and property destroyed.

On Tuesday, about 13 people were said to have been killed when gunmen attacked some communities in Guma LGA.

The assailants were said to have attacked a vehicle ferrying some mourners returning from a burial around Torkula and killed three persons, including a three-month-old baby.

The same day, the Udei Branch community was reportedly attacked in the night by gunmen and about eight people killed.

Caleb Abs, chairman of Guma LGA, said about 13 people were killed in both attacks on Udei Branch and Torkula.

“It is true that there was an attack yesterday. There was a burial in Torkula and people who were coming back from the burial came under attack and about five people were killed,” he said.

“At about 10pm, yesterday, there was another attack at Branch Ude where about eight people were killed, totalling about 13 people, only yesterday.

“Two people were injured according to the information I received, and they are now receiving treatment in the hospital.”

Also, several property was destroyed, on Tuesday, when gunmen suspected to be militiamen attacked Ochoro community, in Oju LGA, abducted and killed its traditional ruler.

Several other residents too were reportedly killed, while about 13 children were recorded missing.

Residents said the attack was an escalation of the conflict over land ownership between Oju LGA and Bonta, a community in Konshisha LGA.