Sophia Michaels
In renewed assaults on three distinct communities in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, bandits have claimed the lives of approximately 26 individuals.
Among those killed were six personnel of the state security outfits known as ‘Benue State Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards who were deployed to mount security guard for a family who had gone to bury their loved one.
According to locals, the attacks happened between Saturday and Monday in the Mbakunwande and Jaora communities and along the Naka/Adoka road.
In Saturday’s attack, six operatives of State Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards were reportedly killed; 14 people were also killed on Sunday and six others on Monday.
Confirming the incident to our correspondent on Tuesday, Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Henry Agba, said that 26 people were killed and several others injured.
He said, “The attack started on Saturday, six security operatives of the state, comprising Benue Security Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards were killed.
“They (operatives) escorted the family of a deceased to a village called Mbakunwande where they had gone to bury the loved one, and they ambushed them and killed them.
“On Saturday at about 11 pm, they attacked a community in Jaroa, and 14 people were killed.
“Also on Monday, that was yesterday, they attacked a community along Naka/Adoka road where the villagers have so far recovered six dead bodies, and many people were injured and receiving treatment at some clinics within the LGA.
Agba said the incidents had been reported to the police and state security adviser, Joseph Har, who visited one of the incident scenes on Monday.
