Three burnt to death as Benue boils again

Suspected arsonists burnt three people alive in Tse-Achia, a village near Kasar in the outskirts of Zaki Biam, Ukum local government area of Benue state, on Friday.

The police confirmed the incident, saying the attackers razed some buildings in the village.

Moses Yanmu, police public relations officer in the state, said the arsonists carried out the attack in the early hours of the day.

Yanmu added that preliminary investigations revealed that the attack was “retaliatory”.

He said the identity of the attackers was still unknown, but assured the public that the culprits would be apprehended.

The attack on Tse-Achia happened few days after suspected hoodlums torched Zaki Biam Yam Market in the state.

Seventeen people were killed in that attack, while 11 others sustained injuries.

Yanmu said investigations had revealed that the driver who drove the vehicle that conveyed the attackers to Tse Achia was from Zaki Biam.

Gunmen had besieged Zaki Biam village in a Toyota car few days ago, shooting sporadically and destroying things on their trail.

The police said they have not been able to fathom the motive of the attackers, but appealed to those with useful information that might lead to their arrest to volunteer it to security agencies.