Armed herders killed four persons in a repeat attack on the Abaushwa community, Nzorov council ward, Guma Local Government Area, Benue State.
Chronicle NG learned on Tuesday that many people sustained varying degrees of injuries during Monday’s attack.
According to a neighborhood insider, the attackers entered the village late at night, raiding homes and killing people while they slept.
One of the residents, who just identified himself as Atoundo, claimed there was no provocation to justify the attack.
“They came and attacked the community without any provocation, killing people in their sleep. They forced open the doors of their victims and murdered them inside their houses.
“Three persons were killed during the attack, while several others sustained injuries. The injured were taken to the General Hospital in Gbajimba, but one of them later died, bringing the death toll to four.”
In response to the event, former executive secretary of the Benue State Teaching Service Board, Frank Kyungun, who is from the village, condemned the attack as unjustified.
He said, “It was an unprovoked attack by armed herdsmen. They came at about midnight and launched a heavy assault on the community. They killed four people and left several others injured. Those wounded have been taken to the General Hospital in Gbajimba.
“We accompanied the former governor to sympathize with our people and urged them to remain calm and allow the police to carry out their investigations.”
Morris Orwough, chairman of Guma LGA, denounced the attack in a statement released by his personal assistant on communication and strategy, Ernest Tortiv.
The chairman stated that security forces had been dispatched to Abaushwa to restore order, safeguard lives and property, and prevent future attacks.
He asked citizens to be calm, cooperate with security services, and continue to offer credible information to help combat insecurity in the area.
Meanwhile, DSP Peter Aondongu, a spokesperson for the state command, confirmed the attack on Tuesday, saying four people were murdered.
The PPRO said, “I can confirm that there was an attack in Guma LGA in which four persons were killed by suspected bandits. Authorities are intensifying their efforts to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice as the investigation continues.
