Suspected armed herdsmen have allegedly killed about 18 persons during a renewed attack on the Iye Community in Uvir Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area, of Benue State.
The assailants were said to have stormed the community around 6 pm, on Sunday, when the residents were transacting business on the market day.
Some of the killed victims, which included women and children were said to have been beheaded and their remains burnt alongside their houses and food barns.
Other affected persons sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack.
A native of the community who lost a relation in the attack said, “Fulani herdsmen attacked Iye community around 6pm on Sunday. They killed over 18 people, including my brother. They also injured several others and burnt down many houses, including some of the victims. The attack occurred on Iye market day when people were busy trading.
“This attack is unfortunate because we were displaced from our village, Tse-Orvihi in Uvir Council Ward of the same Guma LGA and my family members took refuge at Iye, where they now came and killed my brother yesterday.”
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Julius Alawari who confirmed the attack, informed that seven corpses were recovered from the scene of the attack.
He disclosed, “A combined team of Operation Whirl Stroke, the Police, and the Volunteer Guards confronted and repelled them. One of the attackers was also killed.”