Graphic: G¥nmen att@ck Benue communities, k#ll at least 24 persons

No fewer than 27 persons have been reportedly k#lled by an unknown armed gang in a bloody attack on Adogo Ugbaam, Akpuuna and Diom communities in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State

The att@ck also left several persons with life-thr£at£ning inj¥ries, It was gathered that the armed men had, on Friday night, att@cked a funeral at Adogo Ugbaam community, where they k#lled three mourners. And on Saturday morning, at about 11a.m., another gang invaded Akpuuna and Diom communities, where 24 persons were m¥rdered
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According to a source who spoke to Vanguard News said the armed men whose motive was not known, stormed the villages on motorbikes k#lling the three mourners at Adogo Ugbaam village at about 9p.m., after which they invaded Akpuuna and Diom on Saturday morning, when the local market in the area was busy with the day’s activities.

He said: “Nobody saw this coming; the armed men stormed Diom and Akpuuna on motorbikes at about 11 am, when the local market in the community had picked up with activities after k#lling three mourners at Adogo Ugbaam village last night (Friday) at about 9p.m. At Akpuuna and Diom they sh%t at anybody they saw, mercilessly k#lling the people in the market and the two neighbouring villages.

There was pandemonium; people ran for their lives but many could not escape. Apart from those k#lled, many are still missing; and from all indications that number will rise. After k#lling the people and injuring many, the armed men set fir£ on people’s property and fled the scene.”

Confirming the development, the Chairman of Ukum LGA, Mr. Kartyo Tyoumbur, said information at his disposal indicated that 24 bodies had been recovered from the two att@cked villages.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene in a statement said “At about 12 pm, a militia gang invaded Akpuna village, Ukum LGA of Benue state and were sh%%ting sporadically. Upon receipt of this information, police teams in collaboration with other security agencies rushed to the area and engaged these bandits, who were eventually repelled. Eight corpses were recovered at the scene while many other inj¥red persons were taken to hospital for treatment. Operation is ongoing in the area.”