No fewer than eight persons were reportedly killed by suspected armed herdsmen who invaded Yelewata, a border community between Benue and Nasarawa states in Guma Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state.
According to a source in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity that the armed men who stormed the community at about 7:30pm when majority of the youths were still at the market square because it was a market day, abducted one of their victims and left two others seriously injured.
According to him “they sneaked into the community from one of the forests bordering Benue and Nasarawa states and opened fire on their victims including a woman and her four children and some others.
“Eight persons died from the attack, some have been taken to the hospital and we have also not seen some persons after the attack,” he said.
When contacted, the Chairman of Guma LGA, Mr. Caleb Abah who confirmed the attack said it was unprovoked.
Mr. Abah said, “yesterday (Tuesday) was Yelwata market day and the people were still in the market around 7pm when the armed herdsmen came and started shooting sporadically. In the end, eight people were killed, two persons were injured and one other person was abducted and is yet to be released till now.