In the Ushongo Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State, at least six people have reportedly been killed by unidentified armed men in the Igba-Ukyor and Tse Baka communities.
The armed men reportedly stormed the communities on motorbikes around 8 pm local time on Sunday, shooting randomly and killing anyone they caught up with. This information was obtained from a local source.
“They rode their motorcycles from one village to the next.” They launched their first attack on the Igba Ukyor community. They killed five people there before moving on to nearby Tse Baka, where they killed one more person,” the source said.
According to him, “The strange attack created pandemonium in the communities, and people fled their homes for fear of being killed.” Some of them ran into the bush last night to hide, only to return this morning.”
Bemgba Iortyom, State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and a resident of Ushongo LGA, confirmed the development.
“Findings available to me indicate that unknown gunmen riding on Bajaj motorcycles stormed the Igba-Ukyor settlement area of Daav, Ikóv Council Ward of Ushongo LGA at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, and shot indiscriminately with automatic firearms, killing five people at the spot,” Iortyom said.
They were said to have gone to a nearby settlement called Tse Baka and murdered one person. Information regarding their identity and motives is yet to be ascertained.”
When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene stated that she had yet to receive information about the development.