Two weeks after the violent protests in Zaki Biam that resulted in three deaths and extensive property damage, suspected militia gunmen have struck again in Benue State.
In a brutal attack early Saturday, 18 people were killed, three were kidnapped, and properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed in Mbacher council ward of the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
The assault also left two people injured and many residents displaced, fearing further attacks.
A local source recounted the harrowing events: “The militia stormed the village in large numbers and opened fire on people.”
Justine Shaku, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, confirmed the attack to newsmen, stating that soldiers had received intelligence about the impending attack but were unable to reach the area in time to prevent the carnage.
“Yes, I can confirm that 18 persons were killed and two others wounded by ‘terrorist’ bandits in my local government area,” Shaku said.
He elaborated on the distressing details, noting, “We received a distress call from the villagers that some group of terrorists mobilised themselves 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.”
Shaku also revealed that before the attack, there had been a spate of kidnappings in the area, including an Igbo man and his two children.
“Apart from what happened yesterday, we have had pockets of kidnappings. Kidnapping is also resurfacing in the area,” he added.
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the incident. The command’s spokesperson, Sewuese Anene, stated in a text message to newsmen that an investigation is ongoing and that normalcy has returned to the area.