No fewer than 13 persons have been killed by unidentified gunmen in Imande Mbakange community and other neighbouring communities in Mbacher Council Ward, Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
Eye witnesses said that the attack was allegedly carried out by local militias who have been terrorising the area for a long time.
Security operatives in the area had in the past few years checked the nefarious activities of the criminals accused of armed robbery, kidnapping and random shooting of people of the area during market days as well as at funeral ceremonies.
Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Atera Alfred, confirmed that the attack occurred simultaneously in the early hours of Saturday.
But Alfred confirmed 13 dead bodies had been recovered so far from the bushes as of Saturday evening.
He added that many people also wounded were now receiving treatment at different hospitals.
The council chairman’s media aide, Tsar Tartor, earlier in a statement, quoted his principal to have vehemently condemned the incident which claimed many lives and left several others injured while several houses were burnt alongside property worth millions of naira.
He described the killings by the suspected militias as, “in-human and barbaric”, urging all security formations to double there efforts to combat the renewed attacks.
The council boss also urged security operatives to intensify surveillance in the areas prone to attacks to avert further breakdown of law within the local government.
He sympathised with families of the victims while promising to continue to support and implement every lawful means in a bid to permanently end the senseless killings of innocent people of Katsina-Ala.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident.
She, however, said there were no details yet.
“Incident confirmed but details yet to be received please,” Anene said.