- The assailants killed at least sixteen people during the attack which happened in the early hours of Friday.
Gunmen wreaking havoc in Nigeria’s middle belt region have struck again in Benue state.
The gunmen, suspected to be armed herders, attacked Wandor community of Mbakyor, Mbalom District in Gwer East Local Government Area, leaving behind trails of deaths and destruction in their wake.
The assailants killed at least sixteen people during the attack which happened in the early hours of Friday.
The incident happened less than 48 hours after after over 50 people were killed in the state by rampaging armed herders.
Locals told newsmen that while 16 corpses had been recovered so far the whereabouts of many residents is unknown.
The disclosed that despondent and bereaved youths of the affected community took custody of the bodies while awaiting security intervention.
They also said that 11 settlements, including Tse- Agernor, Tse- Najime, Tse- Wandor, Wandor market square, Tse-Ate, Tse-Anyol, Tse- Abagi, Tse-Ifian, Tse- Ukombor, Tse- Girgi Akwaya, Tse- Tion Ukpa and Tse- Abuur were were set ablaze by the armed invaders
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Those whose bodies had been found were identified as Peter Tion, Nyityo Kyoon, Iorfa Ukombor, Doopinen Awua, Tyoshaa Mkaanem, Asan Ate, Asough Ate, Terzungwe Asoo Ate and MWO Mbatsavbun Gbatar (rtd).
Others are: John Ndahagh Tyohemba, Tertsea Ukombor, Akuma Kpenge, Abume Kpenge, Igba Byuan, Master Ter Byuan, Terzungwe Aulugh and a little boy whose name was not yet known at the time of this report.
A villager, who witnessed the attack, said search has begun in the bushes to recover bodies of missing persons believed to have been killed.
He said one Alhaji, whom his boys were earlier arrested, was behind the attack.
The villager who spoke in confidence told Daily Trust that “They (attackers) came through Mbasombo into our village. There is a herders’ settlement close to the boundary between Ihyrav and Ayar and the Alhaji who we believed caused this attack. We earlier arrested three of his boys and handed them over to the police at Aliade. They were later released.
“The retired WO2 military officer and community security adviser who reported the case was among those killed. They took us by surprise. They came around 7pm yesterday (Thursday) numbering over 40, with guns and cutlasses.
“The operation lasted over three hours. As I’m talking to you now, over 50 houses are burnt. One of the victims was burnt in his house.”
The police spokesperson for Benue Command, SP Catherine Anene, said is yet to issue a statement on the incident.
In the same vein, the Deputy Governor of the state, Barr. Sam Ode, was said to have travelled to the affected community for on-the-spot assessment at the time of filing this report