By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly struck at Mbasombo community in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State killing three farmers.
The attack which took place on Wednesday night also resulted to the missing of several others, though some locals said they might have also been killed.
Eyewitnesses and survivours described the attack as a horrifying scene as heavily armed assailants stormed the village under the cover of darkness, opening fire indiscriminately and setting houses on fire.
The attack sent waves of panic throughout the community, with many residents fleeing into surrounding bushes and nearby villages.
“We were already asleep when we heard gunshots coming from the direction of the farmlands,” recounted Mr. Tersoo Ikyernum, a farmer and resident of Mbasombo.
“At first, we thought it might be thieves, but then the shooting became intense. We ran with our children, some without shoes, into the night. I have not seen my younger brother since then,” Ikyernum lamented.
According to residents, the casualty figure could be higher, as many villagers remain missing and others are reportedly injured, receiving treatment in makeshift shelters and nearby clinics.
“This is a massacre, not just an attack,” said Ms. Iveren Nyikwagh, a youth leader in the area.
“We are just seven minutes from Makurdi, the state capital. If we are not safe here, where are we supposed to be safe?
Mbasombo, situated along the outskirts of Makurdi, is known for its farming communities and growing population. Its proximity to the state capital has made last night’s attack even more alarming for both residents.
“This is not some remote village hidden in the hinterland. This happened right at the doorstep of the capital,” said Chief Dominic Shima, a local traditional leader.
“If this can happen here, then it means nowhere is safe in Benue anymore.”
Residents criticized the lack of immediate response from security agencies, despite the nearness to major military and police formations in Makurdi.
Many expressed anger that such a deadly attack could go unchecked for hours.
“The gunshots lasted for more than an hour. Where were the police? Where were the soldiers? We are tired of dying in silence,” said Mrs. Patience Ukeyima, a widow who lost her son in the attack.
Local vigilante groups were said to have attempted repelling the attackers but were overwhelmed by the superior firepower and number of the assailants. The attackers reportedly retreated before dawn, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
When contacted, the Chairman of Gwer East Local Government Council, Mr Timothy Adi, confirmed the incident.
“I’m in a meeting sir, casualty figure three, situation now relatively calm.” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, CSP, Catherine Anene, also confirmed the incident.
