Three mourners have been shot dead by gunmen in an attack on Sati Ikov ward in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State, with two other persons abducted during the incident.
The attack occurred at the weekend as the victims were returning from a burial ceremony. Witnesses said the group encountered the assailants, who opened fire, killing three people before taking two others away.
A resident, who spoke by telephone from Makurdi on Sunday, said the attackers ambushed the mourners, killing three on the spot and abducting two victims.
Confirming the incident, the lawmaker representing Ushongo State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Simon Gabo, condemned the repeated attacks in the area and blamed local militias.
He identified those killed as Bem Msughter from Mbakyombo, Daav-Ikov; Aondo Chia from Mbamegh, Daa-Ikov; and Sunday Terwase of Mbakyor, Daav-Ikov.
Gabo also said two mourners were kidnapped during the attack. They were identified as Aondongu Amos, a POS operator at Sati-Ikov, and Mrs Arinze, an Igbo patent medicine trader.
“I received a report around 4 am on Sunday that they were attacked on their way back from a burial on Saturday night. The armed men shot three of them, robbed others and kidnapped two persons,” he said.
The lawmaker, who is also the Deputy Majority Chief Whip of the Assembly, alleged that the attackers usually cross from neighbouring Katsina-Ala Local Government Area through riverine and forest routes to launch attacks before retreating.
He added that the matter had been reported to the police and that the Divisional Police Officer deployed security personnel to the community on Sunday morning.
Benue State has continued to witness violent attacks in several communities in recent years, with many incidents linked to armed militias, banditry and communal clashes, prompting repeated calls for stronger security measures.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone were not answered as of the time this report was filed.
