Survivors of a deadly attack by suspected herdsmen in Benue State have recounted the harrowing night when gunmen invaded their community during a rainstorm, leaving dozens dead and many others wounded.
In an emotional interview with Punch Newspapers, a grieving husband narrated how he lost his pregnant wife and child in the assault. “They killed my two wives and my child. One of my wives was pregnant when they attacked. They killed her with my one child,” he said, struggling to hold back tears.
The attack, which occurred at night amid heavy rainfall, caught residents of the community unaware. Most of the victims were said to be asleep when the gunmen struck, opening fire indiscriminately and setting homes ablaze.
Local sources confirmed that the attack happened in one of the rural villages in the Guma Local Government Area, a region that has seen repeated violence linked to herder-farmer clashes. Many residents have since fled to internally displaced persons camps, fearing further attacks.
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Community leaders have called on the federal government and security agencies to intervene and bring the perpetrators to justice. “How long shall we continue to bury our people without any consequences for the killers?”, one elder asked.
The Benue State government has condemned the attack, urging federal authorities to deploy more troops to the troubled areas.
