No fewer than 30 people have been killed in several communities across two local government areas LGAs of Benue State.
According to reports, many rural communities of Kastina-Ala and Logo LGAs respectively came under invasion on Sunday, and in the early hours of Monday. Locals said already 10 corpses were recovered in the Kastina-Ala while 20 bodies were picked up in Logo area, bringing the total number of deaths to 30.
Commenting on the incident, a community leader in Logo, Chief Joseph Anawah, said, “There was attack on Azege settlement and environ of Tombo Council Ward on Sunday, about 7a.m. Armed men, numbering over 300, suspected to be militia from outside Nigeria, struck.
He further said: “This invasion was carried out in the morning hours and the invaders were clearly seen by the locals. The security operatives on ground were unable to repel them because of their number and the sophisticated weapons they were carrying. It was not until the arrival of a military jet before they were able to subdue them to retreat. Over 20 corpses were discovered, while the search for more missing persons is on going”.
Council Chairman of Kastina-Ala LGA, Justine Shaku, also told newsmen in Makurdi that many people were killed in his area and valuable property destroyed. His Logo LGA counterpart, Clement Kav, alleged that the attackers claimed ownership of his domain, saying that the Tombo land belongs to them.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, saying however that five bodies were recovered.
