Again, gunmen kill 8 in Benue

Gunmen early hours of Thursday killed eight people at different locations in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

This came barely 48 hours after gunmen killed five people at Ahentse village in Ndzorov hometown of the state Governor, Samuel Ortom, in the same local government.

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Our correspondent reports that six of the victims were killed at Ye, a village along Daudu-Gbajimba Road while the remaining two were hacked to death at Branch Udei around Yelewata.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Lt Col. Paul Hemba (retd), who confirmed these to our correspondent on the telephone, said three people were also injured in Ye.

The Chairman of Guma LGA, Caleb Aba, who also confirmed this to journalists in Makurdi, said, “One cannot explain the reasons for this renewed killing because there was no provocation at all.

The herders just came, attacked the people and ran back into Nasarawa.

“This latest one happened at the early hours of today, between 3am and 4am. For now, the situation is that of fear of what would happen next.

“I appeal to the federal government and the security agencies to step up surveillance and I call on the people to be more security conscious.

“They should be on the watch out and report suspicious movements to relevant authorities,” Aba posited.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, said she had yet to receive a report of the fresh attack.