Gunmen believed to be bandits have again reportedly killed three people in Ayati community of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
Locals said that the victims were at a social gathering when the bandits opened fire on them, killing them – all males – on the spot and injuring several others.
The locals said that the incident happened on Sunday evening.
Our correspondent reports that some communities in Ukum LGA have allegedly become deserted in recent times following a renewed fight between two rival gangs in the area.
Ezra Nyiyongo, a member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Ukum Constituency, told journalists in Makurdi on Monday confirmed the current attack.
“We have had that problem well before now. Just that it has taken different turns and twists but generally we have security challenges. You are aware when the serving Commissioner for Information, Matthew Aboh was picked. One of our elder statesmen was picked and he later died in their hands. So, we have been having these reoccurences.
“You will hear that today 24 people were killed, other times 11 and it keeps on happening every other day. Let me be frank with you at this point, I do not really want to talk about this because what is happening there is within, there are no external aggressors. We cannot go into details to ask what am doing and what is going on? You will sympathise with my people in Ukum and by extension Benue State.
“We as a government need to step up our strategy. I’m particularly pained so much and I believe the government is looking at it critically. At my end, the options I have are limited for now but I think I will meet up with the executive. As a legislator I have reported to my Speaker and we will take it up with the governor and I believe we will have a headway sooner or later.
“I believe the governor during our electioneering promised to do everything to bring peace even if it means bringing the carrot approach to the so-called boys in the bush. And I believe that takes time because you have to start planning on where do you take them to and if the Federal Goverment accepts to forgive them, all is a process which I believe is ongoing.
“In the interim, I feel pained and sometime, I’m ashamed because if it were external aggressors that are attacking us, then you can say there is breakdown of law and order but here we have a case where same brothers from the same mother and father pointing guns at each other, who is going to report who? This is the situation I’m facing. It is devastating. It is really terrible,” the lawmaker lamented.
Spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, did not respond to calls or text messages put through her telephone to confirm the incident.
