Gunmen suspected to be bandits invaded Mbacher community in Mbacher Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday night, killing 18 people.
Sources from the local government told our correspondent that the attack took place around 11:00 pm, despite the curfew imposed by the state government.
The bandits were said to have gathered the villagers under the pretense of addressing them before opening fire.
Recall that the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, had two weeks ago imposed a 6:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew in the Sankera axis following a violent protest in Ukum LGA. The Sankera axis, comprising Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo, has been a hotspot for criminal activities in the state.
The source further disclosed that 18 bodies were recovered by the military on Saturday morning.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Justine Shaku, said the bandits had completed their attack before the military could arrive.
“At about 11:00 pm yesterday (Friday), we received a distress call from the villagers that a group of terrorists were moving from house to house, forcing people to follow them.
“I quickly mobilized the military officers in Tor Doonga, but due to the remote location, the attack was over by the time they arrived,” Shaku stated.
Shaku also mentioned that several people were wounded during the attack.
“I was told it was 17, but today 18 people have been confirmed dead. All of them were assembled in one place and killed,” he added.
The council chairman described the activities of the gunmen as “local terrorism”, noting that their tactics resemble guerrilla warfare.
“I no longer call them bandits because I’m seeing elements of terrorism in their activities.
“They are terrorists within, though they have external forces aiding them. The locals are the major perpetrators,” Shaku added.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful as her phone rang out.
However, the Special Adviser on Security and Internal Affairs to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Joseph Har, confirmed the incident.
