Three killed as gunmen in military uniform attack Benue community

Three persons have been reportedly killed in an attack on Naka town of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attack happened barely 24 hours after a Deeper Life Pastor and three others were killed in Guma LGA of the state.

Our correspondent reports that Naka, a rural commercial town and headquarters of Gwer West LGA had being a host to displaced people from villages in the locality.

Witnesses said the latest attack on the town happened about 8pm on Tuesday.

A resident said people began to run in different directions following sound of heavy gunshots around the Comprehensive College in Naka.

The residents alleged that the attackers who were dressed in military uniform killed three people on the spot before they were repelled.

Chairman of Gwer West, Mrs Grace Igbabon, told journalists that the attackers rode on motorbikes.

“Some armed men came and attacked a suburb area of Naka town, they came in the evening on Tuesday. They came in military camouflage and were on motorcycles and the whole thing is confusing.”

“The attack on Naka which is close to the state capital goes a long way to show that Makurdi itself is not safe; because they at a point in time, invaded Adaka which is a suburb of the state capital.

“Three people were killed in the process including, two elderly men and one young man. There were heavy gunshots and people were just running helter skelter.

“I have reported the matter to the police and to the security adviser to the Governor, I also sent pictures of the deceased persons to him,” Igbabon said.

Contacted, the State Chairman of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Mohammed Risku, said he wasn’t aware of the incident, stressing that he even just concluded a meeting with the security adviser.

Meanwhile, the traditional head of the affected local government, Ter Nagi, Chief Daniel Abomtse, also told newsmen in Makurdi that three of his subjects were brutally killed by the invaders.

“Yesterday, they (attackers) came from Nasarawa axis knowing too well that there are Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in Agagbe, they intruded Agagbe in their movement on the south western direction and another portion of Nagi settlement area and burst out at a surburb of Naka called Goh, then they maintained a bush path known as Anyim road and parked their motorcycles within 200 metres from the town because I went and searched everything myself and they started opening fire on the part of Naka known as Gbankeke where the local government Secretariat is located.

“Immediately, they blocked the Adawa road which is linked to Mbabwaande district to Naka and immediately stopped a young man conveying a lady on a motorcycle. They shot him from the umbilical cord and the bullets pierced at the back and he died. The young girl, Martha Ukange and Tersoo Yasough, were killed.

“Thereafter, they moved towards the road linking Naka to Agagbe where they stopped and slaughtered an Octogenarian, Ahemba Apeale, and removed his tongue and other sensitive parts of the body. After that, they fled the area back to Nasarawa State where they came from. So they killed three people, others are still missing and we are still searching,” the royal father said.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, told our correspondent that she was on transit and would comment on the incident later but she had not done so as of the time this report was filed.