Tragedy struck in Benue State on Saturday night as suspected armed militias attacked mourners returning from a burial in Sati-Ikov Council Ward, Ushongo Local Government Area, killing three people and abducting two others.
It was gathered that the victims were ambushed near the community shortly after the burial ceremony. A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said the attackers opened fire on the mourners without warning.
“Some mourners returning from a burial were attacked close to our community on Saturday night by local militias. Three of them were killed, and two others—a man and a woman—were kidnapped,” the source disclosed.
Confirming the incident, the lawmaker representing Ushongo Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Simon Gabo, described the attack as part of a troubling pattern of violence that has turned the area into a conflict zone in recent weeks.
Gabo identified the deceased as Bem Msughter from Mbakyombo, Daav-Ikov; Aondo Chia from Mbamegh, Daa-Ikov; and Sunday Terwase of Mbakyor, Daav-Ikov. He also named the abducted victims as Aondongu Amos, a Point-of-Sale operator in Sati-Ikov, and Mrs Arinze, an Igbo patent medicine trader.
“I received a distress call around 4 a.m. on Sunday that armed men attacked mourners returning from a burial. They killed three and kidnapped two others. The attackers also robbed residents,” Gabo said.
The lawmaker lamented that such attacks had become frequent, noting that at least three persons were killed in a similar incident in the community two weeks earlier.
According to him, the assailants often launch attacks from neighbouring Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, exploiting the difficult terrain.
“They cross the river into our communities, attack, and retreat. The area is mountainous with vast forests, making it easy for them to escape,” he added.
Gabo said he had reported the latest attack to security agencies, adding that the Divisional Police Officer deployed personnel to the affected community on Sunday morning.
Efforts to get a response from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
The incident has heightened tension among residents, who say they now live in constant fear amid the rising wave of insecurity in the state.
Gunmen kill three mourners, abduct two in Benue
