At least 30 people are feared dead following separate attacks by suspected bandits in Benue State. The incidents occurred in the early hours of Sunday and Monday, with Azege settlement in Tombo council ward, Adabo, and Tse Gwebe in Logo and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas being the hardest hit.
According to local sources, the attacks began on Sunday morning when a large group of over 300 armed men, believed to be militants from Nasarawa State, stormed Azege village and its surroundings. A community leader, Joseph Anawah, revealed that it took the intervention of a military jet to push the attackers back after security forces on the ground were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and advanced weaponry.
As of the latest reports, more than 20 bodies have been recovered, with many still missing. Logo LGA Chairman, Clement Kev, confirmed that 17 people were killed and 37 others injured during the attack. He added that the attackers, believed to be herdsmen from Nasarawa State, claimed ownership of the land in question, intensifying tensions in the region.
In a second attack on Monday at around 2 a.m., armed assailants targeted the villages of Adabo and Tse Gwebe in Katsina-Ala, killing at least 10 people and looting property. Katsina-Ala LGA Chairman, Justine Shaku, confirmed the raid, stating that the attackers destroyed valuable property and left without any interruption.
Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State, Catherine Anene, confirmed the attacks in Logo LGA but had no immediate comment on the Katsina-Ala incident. The search for missing persons continues as security forces step up efforts to restore order.
