Thirteen persons, including a three-month-old baby, have been feared killed in two separate attacks in Governor Samuel Ortom’s local council, Guma in Benue State.
The Guardian gathered that the Tuesday attack came barely 24 hours after suspected herdsmen killed eight persons, including two aid workers, in the same local council.
Local sources told The Guardian that gunmen attacked a bus loaded with mourners – who were returning from a burial at Umenger – around Torkula village, resulting in the death of three persons. Two victims, who were shot, were reportedly receiving treatment at a hospital in Makurdi.
The three-month-old baby was shot in the chest, while its mother was shot in the lap.
Similarly, Udei community was said to have been attacked on the same Tuesday night by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen during which eight persons were killed.
Confirming the attacks to newsmen, Chairman of Guma, Caleb Aba, said 13 persons were killed in the two attacks on Udei and Torkula.
His words: “It is true that there was an attack yesterday. There was a burial in Torkula and people, who were coming back from the burial, came under attack and about five were killed. About 10 p.m., yesterday, there was another attack at Udei where about eight people were killed, totalling about 13 people only yesterday. Two people were injured, by the information I received, and they are now receiving treatment in the hospital.”
But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to be briefed on the attack and promised to revert as soon as she gets the information.
