No fewer than 20 persons have been reportedly eliminated in what appeared to be another coordinated attack on Benue communities in Waya, Jato-Aka, Turan and villages in Mbabuande and Mbapa Council Wards of Kwande and Gwer West Local Areas of the state.
It was gathered from a source in the Turan area that the victims at Waya were attacked in their farms by the bandits, who invaded the community at about 11a.m. on Thursday.
“When they came into our community, our people were in their farms to prepare for the cropping season since it started raining few days back.
“It was while in the farm that the herdsmen stormed our village and all those they caught up with in the farms were wiped out, while the lucky ones escaped with serious injuries.
“So far eight mutilated bodies of the victims have been recovered including those of children and a family of four.
“The bodies recovered includes those of Gbaeren Orsoo, Terdoo Tsega, Bemdoo Tsega, Abacha Tsega, Terkaa Tsega, Aôndoaseer Tyov, Iorhen Atim and Aôndowase Igba.
“The search for more bodies is still ongoing because several persons are still missing and people are fleeing their homes and villages,”
Meanwhile, 12 persons were also reportedly eliminated by the marauders in Tse Ibe, Tse Katsa, Tse Melayongu and Mbaakpam in Mbapa Council Ward, as well as Tse Agungu Unger in Mbabuande Council Ward all of Gwer West council.
It was gathered from an indigene of the area, who narrowly escaped with his life, that nine persons died in Mbapa Council Ward while three others were murdered in Mbabuande Council Ward of the LGA.
According to the source, who said he lost his elder brother in the attack, the armed herdsmen stormed Tse Ibe village on motorcycles at about 4p.m. on Thursday. Vanguard.