At least 18 people were killed in a brutal attack by gunmen suspected to be part of a terrorist group in the Mbacher Council Ward of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA), Benue state.
News About Nigeria gathered that the assault, which took place late Friday night, also left two people injured and many others kidnapped.
The Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, confirmed the incident but mentioned that further details are still forthcoming.
Hon. Justine Shaku, Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, provided more insight into the attack, attributing it to terrorist bandits.
“At about 11pm yesterday (Friday), July 19, 2024, 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.
Shaku explained that military officers were quickly mobilised, but due to the remote location, they arrived after the attackers had fled.
Initially, 17 deaths were reported, but the number was later confirmed to be 18. “All of them were assembled in one place and killed,” he added.
Shaku, along with the assembly member and adviser on legislative matters, communicated the situation to the Commissioner of Police, who was en route to Katsina-Ala town to join local officials in visiting the scene.
“This is a guerrilla war. They hit and run away,” Shaku lamented, noting that the area had experienced relative peace in July before this attack.
He also mentioned that some people, including an Igbo man and his two children, were kidnapped.
“In recent days, apart from yesterday’s incident, we have had pockets of kidnappings. Kidnapping is also resurfacing in the area,” Shaku stated.
He described the perpetrators as local terrorists, indicating the involvement of external forces in their activities.
Shaku urged the community to remain calm, assuring them that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is committed to ensuring their safety and that measures are being taken to address the insecurity.
