Gunmen kill many in Plateau, Benue

Gunmen on Tuesday struck in Plateau and Benue states, killing many people.

The assailants arrived in the morning and attacked Kubat village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State where they killed a yet-to-beascertained number of people.

Many women and children were among the victims.

Governor Simon Lalong described the attack as a sad development and directed security forces to ensure that the attackers were arrested.

Lalong, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Simon, directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Peace Building Agency to visit the area and provide relief materials to the victims.

The police spokesperson in the state, DSP Alabo Alfred, who also confirmed the incident, said security personnel had been deployed in the communities.

Although the governor and police did not give the casualty figure, sources said over 30 people were killed in the attack.

Alabo said a combined team of security agencies gave the criminals a hot chase which made them abandon a Volkswagen Sharon bus with registration number Plateau State MGU 988 HK, and four motorcycles.

“As we speak, the culprits are on the run while our officers are still on their trail to ensure that they are neutralized and if possible, arrested,” he added.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 10 people have been killed by armed invaders in a fresh attack on rural communities in two local government areas of

Benue State.

Our correspondent reports that while six of the deceased were killed in the early hours of Tuesday in Adaka village of Makurdi LGA, the remaining four were killed on Saturday in the Ijaha community of Apa LGA.

The paramount traditional ruler of Makurdi LGA, Ter Makurdi, Chief Vincent Aule, told newsmen on the phone that he visited the scene of the attack in Ucheen, near Adaka village.

Aule explained that the attack claimed the lives of a man, his wife and their child and three others including a relation to the deceased family who slumped and died after witnessing the brutality meted on the deceased.

Also, a local told our correspondent that three persons were gunned down in Apa while the fourth, a woman, collapsed and died immediately after she was told her house was burnt down by attackers.

The National Chairman of Apa Development Association, Eche Akpoko, confirmed on phone that three villages - Akpanta, Ochumeko and Ijaha were attacked on Saturday.

Akpoko said while the gunmen killed three people at Ijaha village, they burnt down many houses in the remaining two villages.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the Makurdi attack but said she had yet to receive reports of the Apa incident.

“Attack on Adaka in Makurdi LGA confirmed; five persons dead. Policemen have been deployed in the area. Corpses were deposited at Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH). Investigation is ongoing. I am not aware of killing in Apa LGA,” Anene responded in a text message.