Fresh attack: Gunmen kill six in Benue

Unknown gunmen Sunday night invaded Igba-Ukyor and Tse Baka communities in the Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State and killed six people.

According to a local, the attackers were said to have ridden on motorcycles, stormed the Igba Ukyor community and shot sporadically killing five people.

The local who did not want to be mentioned said that the gunmen later moved to a nearby community where they killed one person.

“As a result of the invasion, some of the villagers ran into the bush last night for fear of being attacked. They only returned this morning from their hiding,” the local said.

Confirming the attack, the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Bemgba Iortyom, who hails from the local government, said that six people were killed during the attack. He said, “Finding available to me indicate that unknown gunmen riding on Bajaj motorcycles stormed Igba-Ukyor settlement area of Daav, Ikóv Council Ward of Ushongo LGA at about 8 pm yesterday (Sunday) and shot indiscriminately with automatic firearms killing five persons on the spot.

“They were said to have proceeded to a Tse Baka which is a nearby settlement and killed one person.

“Information regarding their identity and motives are yet to be ascertained,” Iortyom said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, however, told journalists that she had not been informed about the incident. Punch