Gunmen suspected to be militias have killed 18 people, kidnapped three others, and destroyed properties worth millions of Naira in Mbacher council ward of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Benue State.
Naija News reports that the attack occurred on Saturday morning, resulting in two injuries and causing many residents to flee for fear of further violence.
A source told Channels TV, “The militia stormed the village in large numbers and opened fire on people.”
Confirming the attack, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Justine Shaku, said the gunmen wreaked havoc and left before soldiers could arrive.
Shaku also confirmed that prior to this incident, several people had been kidnapped, including an Igbo man and his two children.
He stated, “Yes, I can confirm that 18 persons were killed and two others wounded by ‘terrorist’ bandits in my local government area.
“We received a distress call from the villagers that a group of terrorists had mobilized and were moving from house to house, forcing people to follow them.
“Some were wounded. Yesterday night, I was told it was seventeen people who died but today, eighteen persons have been confirmed dead. All of them were assembled in one place and killed.
“In recent days, apart from what happened yesterday, we have had pockets of kidnappings. Kidnapping is also resurfacing in the area.”
Similarly, Benue State Police Command spokesman Sewuese Anene confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation is ongoing and normalcy has returned to the area.
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