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Gunmen suspected to be herders have killed at least 13 people in a fresh attack on a community in Benue State, local officials and residents said.
The attackers reportedly stormed Anwase Market in Mbaikyor, Kwande Local Government Area, abducted several women traders and set the market on fire, witnesses said.
Speaking by phone on Friday, Ibi Andrew, an aide to the chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, said 13 people were killed in the attack.
Andrew said the local government chairman, Vitalis Neji, alongside security agencies, had moved to the area to restore calm and prevent further violence.
An eyewitness said the attackers emerged from a nearby mountain, fired shots into the air and caused panic before setting market stalls ablaze and abducting women.
The attackers reportedly retreated in the direction of the mountain. The Benue State Police Command has not yet confirmed the incident.
The attack comes just two days after gunmen struck the Abande community, also in the Kwande Local Government Area, killing at least 16 people.
Residents said the earlier attack occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Abande market while traders and buyers were present. Witnesses said the attackers opened fire on civilians, looted shops and set parts of the market on fire.
A community leader and former supervisory councillor in Kwande LGA, Lawrence Akerigba, said the attackers made away with millions of naira from traders before burning the market.
Akerigba said Abande market day was ongoing at the time of the attack and that victims’ bodies were later taken to Jato-Aka by officers of the Mobile Police Force stationed in the area.
He added that a mobile police officer, believed to be the unit commander on duty, was also killed. He said several residents remained missing and that search efforts were ongoing.
Akerigba said the repeated attacks had forced many residents to flee their homes and created fear across Turan and neighbouring communities.
