On Tuesday, Efeyi village in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State was assaulted by suspected armed herdsmen, who are said to have killed several civilians.
According to local reports, the early-morning incident took the lives of over ten persons and injured a number of others.
Youths in the village started scouring the surrounding bushes and regions after an undisclosed number of persons were reported missing.
The attackers, according to the locals, broke into the community as farmers were getting ready to depart for their farms.
Many residents reportedly fled for their lives as a result of the attackers’ indiscriminate firing.
“On Tuesday morning, the attackers broke into the neighborhood and began shooting at everyone they came across. According to a community source, “many people are still missing and at least ten people were killed.”
At the time this news was filed, the authorities had not yet confirmed the number of casualties.
After the attack, local young people reportedly started looking for others who were still missing.
Although it was not immediately possible to establish the number and condition of the injured citizens, it is also stated that some of them were taken for medical attention.
Concerns about frequent attacks on rural villages in Benue State, where armed groups have recently killed locals and uprooted families, were raised by the occurrence.
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Leadership claims that attempts to get a response from Otukpo Local Government Area Chairman Ogiri Maxwell were fruitless.
He didn’t take calls or reply to a text message about the assault.
The Benue State Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Edet Udeme, confirmed the occurrence and stated that police had been sent to the area.
“A neighborhood was attacked in the early hours of today, and the police are aware of this. Police have arrived at the location. They are starting a comprehensive inquiry into the event and taking the required actions to restore peace,” Udeme stated.
He continued by saying that the leadership was keeping an eye on the issue and will provide further details once investigators determined the attack’s circumstances.
However, the police spokeswoman did not provide an official death toll.