Many feared dead as gunmen invade 6 Benue communities

Suspected herdsmen Sunday morning attacked several farming settlements in Mbaterem, Ukum local government area of Benue state, killing some residents and injuring others.

The attackers reportedly invaded the communities about 4.30am on Sunday and opened fire, forcing residents to flee into surrounding bushes for safety.

A resident, Mchie Jacob, said the attackers invaded about six settlements, including Ayaba, Ukpen, Bom, Aboajio and Yina in Mbazun Ward, with heavy gunfire that lasted for more than five hours.

He said residents of nearby communities, including Dajo, Tse-Ayiaga, Tse-Iba and Abingi, also fled their homes in panic as the attack continued. He stated that security personnel arrived in about three trucks to intervene, but the intensity of the attack and fires in the communities made the situation difficult to contain.

“Right now, we never know the exact number of lives that are safe or unsafe,” Jacob said, while appealing to the state government and Ukum local government authorities to deploy more security personnel to the affected communities.

Confirming the attack, the Benue state Police Command said it had received reports of the incident, with its spokesperson, Orchia Peter Aondohemba, saying more details would be communicated as they became available.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia, through his chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula, confirmed that terrorists “masquerading as herdsmen” attacked communities in Mbazun Ward, killing some residents and injuring others.

The governor commended security agencies for their swift response and condoled with families who lost loved ones, while assuring the injured and affected communities of his administration’s support.
Alia warned those seeking to undermine the state’s peace process, insisting that his administration would continue to protect the people and their ancestral lands.

“I took an oath to protect our people, and I will not relent,” the governor said, adding that the federal government was providing support to tackle acts of terrorism in the state.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies, adding that timely information was critical to preventing further attacks.