A group of armed men suspected to be herdsmen have turned a joyful day into a sorrowful one, following numerous killings on Christmas day.
According to reports from PUNCH, the suspected herdsmen attacked communities in Nyiev-ya in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, killing and causing havoc.
The attack was said to have been made on the 25th of December, when residents were celebrating Christmas.
Confirming the incident to PUNCH, one of the residents said;
The terrorist herders came on Wednesday afternoon when the people were celebrating Christmas and invaded our communities, k!lling and burning houses,”
Also confirming the incident, the former aide to the governor of Benue state, Solomon Amande said a total of 11 people were killed during the combined attack.
“I was told that given the relative peace for some time now in the communities, the people who deserted their homes due to the activities of armed herdsmen decided to go back home and reside in their communities,” Amande said.
“They settled in their communities and went about their normal activities. Unfortunately, on Christmas Day, they went to church and after returning home, families were preparing meals and some gathered and relaxed at spots to celebrate Christmas when a combined team of armed herdsmen and Jukun militias started attacking from five places.
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“They were chasing people and shooting sporadically, and whoever they caught up with was k!lled. They did that till they got to Government Secondary School, Anwase.
“They k!lled 10 people at Anwase in Mbaikyor Council Ward of Turan. And they also k!lled one person at Iyaav Council Ward, which is my ward, around Tse Jam River Crossing. They carried out the k!llings in communities at the foot of the mountain. It was indeed a sad Christmas for our people.
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