Eighteen people have been reportedly killed by suspected armed herders in yet another deadly attack on Iye community of Uvir Council Ward in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The killing is coming barely 48 hours after six people were reportedly gunned down at Akpete village in Apa Local Government Area.
Recall that penultimate Tuesday in the same Guma LGA, six people, including three personnel of the State Community Volunteers Guards and a hunter, were killed between Ortese and Ngban villages.
The latest attack at Iye community happened around 6-7pm on Sunday, leading to the death of the 18 people.
A native, who lost a relation, but spoke in confidence with newsmen, said, “Eighteen people, including my brother, were killed while many others were injured with several houses burnt down.”
The attackers were said to have stormed the community and went straight to the market, being a market day and shot indiscriminately, leading to the heavy casualty.
“We were displaced from our village, Tse-Orvihi, Uvir Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area and my family members sought refuge at Iye, where one of them was killed yesterday (Sunday),” the resident added.
Confirming the attack, the security officer of the local government, Christopher Waku, who spoke on the phone on Monday, said that 18 people were killed.
He said, “It is not well; 18 of our people were murdered yesterday (Sunday) around 6-7pm at Iye village in Guma LGA. The village is after the University of Agriculture, when you are going to Gbanjimba, headquarters of the LGA.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Okoro Julius, who explained that the information of the attack was still sketchy, said seven corpses had been recovered.
He added that one of the attackers was also killed.