BREAKING: Gunmen storm Benue community, abduct women, raze market

Suspected armed herdsmen on Friday afternoon launched a violent attack on Anwase Market in Mbaikyor, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, abducting several women and razing the market.

Residents said the assailants descended from a nearby hill, firing shots into the air to instill fear before setting shops and stalls on fire.

In the chaos that followed, a number of market women were reportedly seized and taken away.

IDOMA VOICE learned that the attackers fled with their captives toward the surrounding mountainous terrain before security operatives could reach the area.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that the fire had already spread across the market by the time locals attempted to organise resistance, forcing traders and residents to flee in different directions to save their lives.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command for comments were unsuccessful, as repeated calls and messages were not returned as of the time of filing this report.