More than 100 persons, mostly women, children and the elderly, were feared killed on Sunday morning in villages and refugee camps located at Ukura, Gafa, Per and Tse-Gusa in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack suspected to have been perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen was on areas, which until the latest onslaught, were havens for those who fled from previously attacked communities.
A reliable source told Vanguard that some of the attackers dressed in military uniform, stormed the affected villages in large numbers.
“What happened was like a war situation where people were killed like animals, irrespective of their ages and gender. This is, indeed, a sad day for the people of Benue State.
“At the moment, a mass burial is taking place for the over 100 victims whose bodies have so far been recovered.
“Most of them were women, children and the elderly, and they are decomposing already.
“Search for more bodies is still ongoing in the area, because so many persons are still missing and unaccounted for,” the source said.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Media Affairs, Mr. Joseph Anawa, confirmed the incident.
“Indeed, over 100 people were killed last Sunday morning when heavily armed suspected Fulani herdsmen, some of whom were dressed in military uniform, stormed the communities from Kente in neighbouring Taraba State.
“They attacked the villages and refugee camps at Ukura, Gafa, Per and Tse-Gusa, where they began shooting indiscriminately at the people at 4a.m. and continued till 10.30a.m.
“As we speak, the communities have been sacked, hundreds of houses, huts, farmland and property worth millions of naira have been destroyed and the inhabitants and survivors have all fled their homes and the communities,” Anawa said.
Commenting on the attack, the Police Commissioner, Hyacinth Dagala, said four persons were confirmed killed and that some people were speculating that over 20 to 25 persons were killed.
He appealed for calm, adding that a detachment of policemen had been dispatched to the area.