Benue State – At least three people have been confirmed dead and another injured following a series of coordinated attacks by suspected bandits across Buruku, Okokolo, and Naka Local Government Areas on Thursday.
In the early hours of the morning, Mbakura Mbagen community in Buruku LGA was attacked around 3:30 a.m. Reports indicate that five armed men stormed the village, killing two Civil Protection Guards, John Kunde and Sughter Orbunde. The attackers also kidnapped a resident, Aondowase Ager, and stole a Bajaj motorcycle belonging to one of the victims. The remains of the slain guards were later deposited at the mortuary in Ugbema as security agencies intensified efforts to rescue the abducted victim.
Meanwhile, Ejima community in Okokolo LGA came under attack around 6:00 a.m. when suspected armed herders opened fire indiscriminately. Daniel Matthew, a local resident, sustained gunshot wounds, prompting immediate deployment of security operatives to track down the attackers and prevent further violence.
Later in the day, Ammuneke village in Naka LGA recorded another violent incident. Two young men, Akula Gugun, 27, and Odi Shimayoho, 28, were killed. Their bodies were evacuated to Agagbe morgue, while security agencies conducted searches in nearby bushes for the perpetrators.
In a related development, a resident of Usen village in Buruku LGA, Benjamin Terver Awuna, has been taken into custody over alleged collaboration with armed herders. Preliminary investigations suggest that he received airtime worth N6,000, which he allegedly used to facilitate attacks on local communities. Authorities have stated that investigations are ongoing.
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