About 30 people have been confirmed dead following attacks by armed men in several communities in two Local Government Areas of Benue State.
The affected areas are Kastina-Ala and Logo LGAs, where many rural communities came under attack on Sunday and in the early hours of Monday.
According to eyewitnesses, 10 corpses were recovered in Kastina-Ala, while 20 bodies were picked up in the Logo area. The attacks were carried out by heavily armed men, suspected to be militia from outside Nigeria.
Chief Joseph Anawah, a community leader in Logo, described the attack on Azege settlement and the environ of Tombo Council Ward. “Armed men numbering over 300 struck at around 7 am on Sunday. The security operatives on the ground were unable to repel them due to their large numbers and sophisticated weapons. It wasn’t until the arrival of a military jet that the attackers were forced to retreat,” Anawah said.
Council Chairman of Kastina-Ala LGA, Justine Shaku, also confirmed the attack on his area. “Many people were killed, and valuable properties were destroyed. The attackers stormed Adabo village and Tse Gwebe settlement in Utange Council Ward of Shitile in Katsina-Ala LGA,” Shaku said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, although she reported a lower number of casualties.