Gunmen kill four, injure five in Benue market attack

At least four people have died and five others are hurt after armed men attacked Abeda Shitile community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, according to residents.

The attack happened on Tuesday while traders were getting ready to close the market, which takes place every Tuesday.

A youth leader, James Gbor, shared the news on his social media page. He named the four people killed as Msoo Chan, Suurshater Iornumbe, Terkimbi Ikyereve, and Pastor Terungwa Hungwa.

He also listed the five injured as Gangera Kumater, Helen Iortyom, Terungwa Tsetim, Kumater Awua, and Orkertyo Iortyom.

An eyewitness, who wanted to remain anonymous for safety reasons, told PREMIUM TIMES that the attackers came on motorcycles and shot at people in the market.

The witness said the gunmen kept shooting at people they met on the road as they left the area. He claimed that a Mobile Police unit in the community did not help during the attack, although officers fired shots into the air.

Another resident, who also wished to stay unnamed, thought the attack was in retaliation. The resident noted that the armed men had come to the community before but usually took things like money or motorcycles without killing anyone.

He suggested that this latest attack was in response to the killing of a suspected gang leader known as Swaga by security forces a few weeks ago. The resident stated that the attackers seemed more focused on killing people than stealing during Tuesday's incident.

The reasons behind the attack and the claims made by residents could not be verified independently. Efforts to contact Peter Aondongu, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, for comments were unsuccessful. He did not answer calls to his phone at the time of this report.

This attack adds to the ongoing violence in Logo Local Government Area. Residents have repeatedly reported attacks on communities and security forces.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on 15 September that two Mobile Police officers were killed in an ambush while escorting the Divisional Police Officer of Ayilamo back to the community. This incident occurred on 14 September, just four days after armed men attacked Ayilamo on 10 September, killing four police officers and seven civilians.

The police confirmed the deaths, raising the total number of officers killed in these attacks to six within four days. Residents are worried about the movement of armed men through forests and abandoned areas. They are calling for more security operations to stop further attacks.

The recent killings in Abeda Shitile are likely to heighten fears about the security situation in Logo and the safety of residents in its vulnerable communities.