At least, over 27 persons have been killed by an unknown gunmen in a bloody clash on Adogo Ugbaam, Akpuuna and Diom communities in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.The attack left several persons with different life-threatening injuries.
It was gathered that the gunmen had on Friday night, attacked a funeral at Adogo Ugbaam community, where they killed three mourners.
And on Saturday morning, at about 11a.m., another set of gunmen were said to have stormed stormed Akpuuna and Diom communities, leading to the death of 24 persons.
According to a local source,the armed men whose motive was not known, laid siege to the villages on motorbikes, killing the three mourners at Adogo Ugbaam village at about 9p.m.
He said that after the ugly incident, they attacked Akpuuna and Diom on Saturday morning, when the local market in the area was a flurry of activities.
He local source said that, “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 killing three mourners at Adogo Ugbaam village last night (Friday) at about 9pm
“At Akpuuna and Diom they shot at anybody they saw, mercilessly killing the people in the market and the two neighbouring villages.
“There was pandemonium; people ran for their lives but many could not escape.
Explaining further, he said that ,apart from the death toll so far recorded, many victims are still missing; and from all indications their number will rise.
He said that, “After killing the people and injuring many, the armed men set fire on people’s property and fled the scene.
“As we speak people are fleeing the troubled communities but the search for missing persons is ongoing. It is a sad day for our people.”
Another source from the area said that, the armed men had on Friday night, attacked a funeral at Adogo Ugbaam community, where they killed three mourners.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of Ukum LGA, Kartyo Tyoumbur, said information at his disposal indicated that 24 bodies had been recovered from the two attacked villages.
He said: “I learned that after attacking Akpuuna and Diom, the armed gang fled the scene but on getting to the Tine-Nune community on the Zakiine-Nune community on the Zaki Biam-Wukari Road they met the military who confronted them.
“Though no one knows how many of them were killed, but I believe some of them must have been neutralized in that exchange.”
The Chairman, who decried the attack, said no one knew the motive of the attackers.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP, Catherine Anene, in a statement said that, “At about 12 pm, a militia gang invaded Akpuna village, Ukum LGA of Benue state and were shooting 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.
The state police spokesperson said that eight corpses were recovered at the scene while many other injured victims were taken to hospital for treatment.
She confirmed that operation was ongoing in the area.
Comments