No fewer than seven persons have been reportedly killed following an attack by suspected armed herders on Channel One community in Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The border settlement, located along the Arufu-Wukari road linking Taraba State, was said to have come under attack late Sunday night.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Amos, told journalists in a telephone interview on Monday that the assailants stormed the community at about 11pm, shooting indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee for safety.
A community leader, Joseph Anawah, who corroborated the account, said six persons were initially confirmed dead, listing them as Akor Gwakyaa, Msooter Gwakyaa, Aondoungwa Michael, Vershima Michael, Terna Michael and Msughter Terzungwe.
He added that several others sustained serious injuries during the assault, with some victims receiving treatment in medical facilities in Anyiin, while those in critical condition were transferred to Ugba for further care.
Anawah alleged that the attackers, who arrived in large numbers on motorcycles and armed with sophisticated weapons, were suspected to be operating from a known camp in Shaor, a deserted village in the area.
He noted that the incident had triggered panic, forcing residents of the affected and neighbouring communities to flee to safer locations.
The community leader called on both the state and Federal Government to intensify security operations in the area, particularly through coordinated border patrols to dismantle suspected criminal hideouts.
He also advocated the establishment of a joint inter-state security task force involving Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states to curb cross-border attacks.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Logo Local Government Area, Clement Kav, said seven persons were killed while four others sustained injuries during the attack.
“They struck late at night, killed the victims and retreated immediately,” he said, adding that security authorities had been briefed.
Kav disclosed that he had informed the state Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, as well as the Special Adviser on Homeland Security.
Efforts to get an official response from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had yet to receive details of the incident as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attack comes amid a resurgence of violent incidents across the state. Last week, gunmen reportedly killed a traditional ruler, his wife and three others in Agatu Local Government Area, while another attack in Ushongo LGA left three mourners dead and two others abducted.
