Two communities in Benue State were thrown into mourning on Friday after a deadly afternoon assault left at least nine people dead.
According to local sources, the attacks were carried out by armed men believed to be herdsmen. The incidents happened in Ayilamo, located in Tombo ward of Logo Local Government Area, and in Jato-Acka within Kwande Local Government Area.
Witnesses from Jato-Acka described a sudden and terrifying scene. More than 20 gunmen reportedly stormed the town in broad daylight, shooting at residents and causing widespread panic. Six people were killed during the attack, while others sustained injuries.
Not long after the first incident, the attackers reportedly moved to Ayilamo through the Ikyungwa route. There, they struck again, taking the lives of three more individuals. Among the dead was a member of the Benue State Livestock Guard, a security task force created to enforce anti-open grazing laws in the state.
Local leaders say the damage could have been even worse if not for the quick arrival of military personnel and police officers. Tyovenda Igyutu, a community elder in Ayilamo, noted that the attackers were well-armed and appeared to have a strategy in place. “It could have been a massacre,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, a youth leader in Jato-Acka, Lawrence Akerigba, confirmed that the invaders came around 4 p.m. “The invaders came around 4 p.m., shot several people, and set houses ablaze,” he said.
