JUST IN: Tragedy as Gunmen Kill Several People in Fresh Attack in Benue State

JUST IN: Tragedy as Gunmen Kill Several People in Fresh Attack in Benue State

  • Gunmen have reportedly killed six people in an attack on three locations, including Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue state.
  • Legit.ng reports that according to witnesses, the incident happened on Tuesday, June 18, 2024
  • One of the witnesses said the gunmen launched the attacks in Tor Donga in Utange council ward, Gugu in Michihe council ward, and another place in Mbacher council ward

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics and public journalism in Nigeria.

Katsina-Ala, Benue state - Gunmen suspected to be local militias, have attacked Gugur community in Katsina-Ala local government area (LGA) of Benue state and killed several people.

The Punch quoted local sources as saying the gunmen rode on motorcycles to attack the community between 9 pm and 10 pm on Tuesday, June 18.

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Gunmen kill people in attack on Benue community
Gunmen have reportedly killed more than five people during an attack on Gugur community in Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue state. Photo credit: Nigeria Police Force
Source: Facebook

Shaku Justine, the local government chairman, confirmed the attack.

Justine said:

“It’s true that the incident happened yesterday (Tuesday, June 18) between 9 pm and 10 pm.
"Six people were killed in the community.”

When contacted, Catherine Anene, spokesperson of the Benue police command, said she was yet to receive the report.

Ceaseless Benue state attacks

Competition over land use is common in Benue state, where fault lines between farmers and herders often overlap with ethnic and religious divisions.

The state has been one of the states hit hardest by years of disputes between nomadic herders and pastoral farmers who blame herdsmen for destroying farmland with their cattle grazing.

Those conflicts have often spiralled into broader criminality and tit-for-tat revenge attacks between informal armed groups established to protect rival communities.

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Read more on Benue state

Gunmen attack Agatu in Benue state

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that unknown gunmen suspected to be herdsmen did the unthinkable in Makurdi, Benue state.

No fewer than four people, including two soldiers, were killed in an attack on the Okokolo community of Agatu LGA.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ridwan Adeola avatar

Ridwan Adeola (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a content creator with more than nine years of experience, He is also a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State (2014). Ridwan previously worked at Africa Check, contributing to fact-checking research works within the organisation. He is an active member of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI). In March 2024, Ridwan completed the full Google News Initiative Lab workshop and his effort was recognised with a Certificate of Completion. Email: ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.