Gunmen have reportedly killed many residents of Ayati community in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
According to reports, not less than 50 people were killed in the attack on Thursday, August 8.
A community member, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters on Friday that the victims were ambushed and killed by the assailants.
Confirming the incident in a chat with The ICIR on Friday, August 9, a leader in the community, Shima Ayati, said that over 50 corpses were recovered from the village as of Friday morning.
He blamed the state local security unit, Benue Community Volunteer Guards for leaving the residents unprotected after starting a fight with ‘herders’.
Ayati who spoke with The ICIR on the telephone said, “The government sent security who went and chased away the herders. During the process, they burnt their (herders) makeshift tents.
“The state security outfit (vigilante) came and attacked the bandits but they left the people alone and later the bandits returned and killed many people.
“As of this morning, we have already recovered almost 50 corpses, some from the bush,” Ayati stated.
According to him, the incident happened on a market day in broad daylight and two policemen were killed.
“There was one boy that came to the market. So people suspected him that he was an informant and was communicating with some people.
“In the process of interrogating him, they found incriminating things on him so he was killed.”
He said after the mob killed the boy, his people attacked the village and started shooting as they were coming to the town.
“They came to the town and went to the market and started killing people with swords, as people were running, they started firing guns indiscriminately anyhow. They killed a lot of people. As of today, we have assembled almost 50 corpses.”
He added that some victims with serious injuries were taken to the hospital for medical attention.
Meanwhile, attempts to speak to the state police command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful as she neither picked up calls nor responded to messages sent to her line.
Ayati may have turned into a killing field
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Residents confirmed that a few weeks ago, the killing of 11 persons in the Ayati community sparked a violent demonstration that resulted in the damage of private and public property in the area council.
The ICIR reported in July that angry youths in the state set ablaze the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Sankara, the headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area.
According to a statement by INEC on Wednesday, July 3, signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, the incident happened when the youths in the area said to be protesting against the activities of bandits attacked the government facilities, including INEC office.
The incident followed the Tuesday, July 2, attack on the Ayati community in Borikyo Council Ward of the LGA by suspected armed bandits.
The attack claimed about 11 lives and left others with severe injuries.
