Gunmen on Saturday invaded in The chairman of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State Mr Kartyo Tyoumbur, has said 24 persons were killed by gunmen who invaded Zaki Akpuuna 1 and Diom communities of Mbaterem district.
Tyoumbur said the bodies of the victims were recovered from the two attacked villages.
He said, “I learnt that after they attacked Akpuuna and Diom, the armed gang went to Tine-Nune community on Zaki Biam-Wukari Road, where the military confronted them.
“Though no one knows how many of them were killed, I believe some of them must have been neutralised in that exchange.”
The chairman, who decried the attack, said no one knew the motive behind it.
The state Police spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the attack in a statement on Saturday.
She said, “Today 8/7/2023 around 12pm, a militia gang invaded Akpuna village, Ukum LGA of Benue State, and shot sporadically.
“Upon receipt of this information, police teams, in collaboration with other security agencies, rushed to the area and engaged these bandits, who were eventually repelled.
“Eight corpses were recovered at the scene while many other injured persons were taken to a hospital for treatment. Operation is ongoing in the area.”
Ukum is one of the three hotspots in the Sankera axis, where bandits suspected to be gang members of the slain Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, hold sway. Other hotspots are Logo and Katsina Ala.
It was learnt that the gunmen invaded the sleepy communities around 8am on Saturday and burnt several houses in adjourning villages.
