Seventeen people have reportedly lost their lives in a brutal attack on Mbalom community, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, on Easter Sunday, April 5.
Residents described the incident as devastating, saying the assailants, believed to be armed militants, stormed the village, opened fire, and set several homes on fire.
Many villagers remain unaccounted for, with locals combing nearby bushes for additional victims.
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“This is heartbreaking. People were caught unawares. Many are still missing,” a local resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The attack destroyed homes and property, leaving survivors displaced and heightening fears over the safety of rural communities in the state.
The incident adds to ongoing security challenges in parts of Benue, where rural communities have experienced repeated assaults by suspected armed groups.