Gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked the Mbacher community in Mbacher Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday night, killing 18 people.
Local government sources reported that the attack occurred around 11:00 pm, despite a curfew imposed by the state government. The assailants reportedly gathered the villagers under the pretense of addressing them before opening fire.
This attack follows a 6:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew imposed two weeks ago by Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia in the Sankera axis, which includes Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo, areas known for criminal activities. The curfew was implemented in response to a violent protest in Ukum LGA.
Military personnel recovered 18 bodies on Saturday morning. The Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Justine Shaku, confirmed the attack, stating that the bandits had completed their assault before the military arrived.
“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,” Shaku said. “I quickly mobilized military officers in Tor Doonga, but due to the remote location, the attack was over by the time they arrived.”
Shaku noted that several people were wounded during the attack, and the death toll, initially reported as 17, had risen to 18. He described the gunmen’s activities as “local terrorism” and likened their tactics to guerrilla warfare.
“I no longer call them bandits because I see 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.
DailyPost