- The fatal event spans two days, starting on Monday and extending into Tuesday, leading to the destruction of a market
- This incident occurs shortly after the killing of a ward commander from the Benue State Livestock Guard
Reports indicate that a tragic incident involving bandits claimed the lives of at least eight individuals across two communities, Chitto and Gbeji, within the Ukum local government area of Benue state.
According to information gathered from residents of the region, the fatalities resulted from violent clashes between rival factions of bandit groups. The situation reportedly unfolded over a two-day span, commencing on Monday and continuing into Tuesday, during which a market was also destroyed.
This grim event occurred shortly after the untimely demise of a ward commander affiliated with the Benue State Livestock Guard. Individuals familiar with the matter, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that five individuals lost their lives in the Chitto community on Monday, while an additional three fatalities occurred in Gbeji on Tuesday, August 22.
One of these sources, speaking with journalists over the phone on Tuesday, conveyed, “Yesterday, in Chitto, a neighborhood within the Ukum LGA, five individuals fell victim to bandit violence.”
“They burnt the market. It was a different attack from that of the list livestock guard who was killed in Tine Nune. Four killed in Chitto and one killed in the suburbs of Chitto in two different attacks making five.”
“Another source from Ukum LG also told journalists that the bandits killed three persons on Tuesday along Sankera-Chitto road.
He said, “To the best of my knowledge, the bad guys are fighting themselves. I think that is the summary of what is happening there. One faction is facing the other. We have the presence of military in Zaki-Biam and yet they continue to operate like this. It is unfortunate.”
A member of State House of Assembly representing Ukum state constituency, Ezra Nyiyongo confirmed the incident but said that information at his disposal was scanty.
The lawmaker said, “You know I don’t stay there now but when I heard of the incident I made a call to DPO who told me that three corpses were recovered so far and taken to the mortuary, beyond that I will need to confirm from him again.”
When contacted, the State command spokesperson, Catherine Anene said she was yet to receive the information.