At least 23 dead bodies were recovered early Wednesday after armed men opened gunfire on residents of Gbeji rural town in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims include 17 villagers, five herders and one policeman.
Witnesses said the incident, which happened around 1:00am had caused the Gbeji dwellers to desert their homes in droves as at Wednesday afternoon.
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A resident of the area told our correspondent on phone that among the people killed was one policeman drafted to quell the attacks on the villagers.
Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Benue Governor, Lt. Col. Hemba, said the killing of 18 persons by suspected herders were reported to him at the time of speaking with our correspondent.
Hemba said he had no report indicating that the killings were a reprisal, adding that he was still trying to make enquiry.
When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, said the attack was carried out by herdsmen who were on a revenge mission for the killing of their five kinsmen within the past two days in separate incidences around the border villages of Benue and Taraba States.
Abass, however, confirmed a total of 10 people killed including five herdsmen, one policeman and four villagers at the time of filing this report.
“We had to mobilise our men to contain the situation from escalating and ensure that normalcy is restored to the area. Altogether, 10 people were killed and 15 injured. No arrest has been made so far,” the police commissioner said.
