Benue declares 3-day mourning for victims

The Benue State government has declared three days of mourning for people killed in recent attacks by gunmen on rural communities in Logo and Guma local government areas.

The death toll rose to over 40 at the weekend after more bodies were recovered in a fresh attack on Anyin locality of Logo on Saturday.

Governor Samuel Ortom said yesterday that the mourning period would be between Tuesday and Thursday this week and would end with a church service for the victims at the IBB Square in Makurdi.

Ortom said that the victims would be given a mass burial after the service.

He said flags would be flown at half mast within the mourning period while work would close at 1pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday which is the day for the church service and burial of the victims would be work-free day in the state.

Our correspondent reports that the police in Benue State at the weekend confirmed another fresh attack by gunmen on Tse-Akombo village of Logo LGA and the killing of 10 people.

Spokesman of the police for Benue command, Moses Yamu, said on Saturday night that the command had received reports that suspected herders entered the Tse-Akombo village and killed some of its inhabitants.

He gave the names of those killed as, Terhile Tyozua, 45; Mlahaga Tse, 65; and Chiangi Tyozua, 40.

The PPRO said other killings were recorded in TseMbakighir of Logo LGA.