Benue: Eight killed as rival bandit groups clash

No fewer than eight people were reportedly killed by bandits in two communities of Chitto and Gbeji, in Ukum local government area of Benue state.

Locals from the council told our correspondent on the phone that the casualty was recorded when the two rival bandit groups engaged in a killing spree.

The incident which started on Monday was said to have spread till Tuesday leading to burning down a market in the area.

The killing came barely 24 hours after a ward commander of Benue State Livestock Guard was killed in the local government area.

Locals from the area who didn’t want to be named said five persons were killed in Chitto on Monday, while another three were killed in Gbeji on Tuesday, August 22.

One of the locals who spoke to journalists in a phone conversation on Tuesday, said, “Five people were killed yesterday in Chitto, a suburb of Ukum LGA by bandits.

“They burnt the market. It was a different attack from that of the list livestock guard who was killed in Tine Nune. Four killed in Chitto and one killed in the suburbs of Chitto in two different attacks making five.” Punch