Gunmen Attack Benue Mourners, Kill Three, Abduct Two

Gunmen Kill Three Mourners, Kidnap Two in Fresh Benue Attack

Gunmen on Saturday night attacked mourners returning from a burial in Sati-Ikov Council Ward of Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing three people and abducting two others in what residents described as a worsening wave of violence in the area.

Residents who spoke on Sunday said the attackers ambushed the victims near the community shortly after the burial ceremony, opening fire on them and causing panic.

A local source, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, said the assailants—suspected to be armed militias—targeted the mourners along the road leading into Sati-Ikov.

“Some mourners coming from a burial were attacked near our community on Saturday night. Three of them were killed, and two others—a male and a female—were kidnapped,” the source said.

The lawmaker representing Ushongo Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Simon Gabo, confirmed the incident and condemned the persistent attacks, describing the situation as alarming.

He identified the deceased as Bem Msughter from Mbakyombo (Daav-Ikov), Aondo Chia from Mbamegh (Daav-Ikov), and Sunday Terwase from Mbakyor (Daav-Ikov).

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According to him, the abducted victims include Aondongu Amos, a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator based in Sati-Ikov, and Mrs. Arinze, an Igbo patent medicine trader in the area.

Gabo, who also serves as the Deputy Majority Chief Whip of the Assembly, said the latest attack is part of a troubling pattern of violence that has intensified over the past two weeks.

“I received a call from my people around 4 a.m. that mourners returning from a burial ran into armed men. The attackers shot and killed three of them, robbed others, and kidnapped two people,” he said.

He further revealed that similar attacks have occurred repeatedly in recent weeks, including an incident about two weeks ago in which three persons were also killed.

The lawmaker attributed the recurring violence to armed groups believed to be crossing into Ushongo from neighbouring Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

“They cross from there to our side, carry out attacks, and retreat. The terrain is difficult—mountainous with dense forests—which makes security operations challenging,” he explained.

Security sources indicated that the incident has been reported to the police, and operatives have since been deployed to the affected community to restore calm and begin investigations.

Efforts to get official confirmation from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached.

The latest killings have heightened fear among residents, with many calling for increased security presence and more proactive measures to curb the growing insecurity in rural parts of the state.

The attack underscores ongoing concerns over rising violence in Benue communities, particularly in border areas where armed groups exploit difficult terrain to launch assaults and evade capture.

 

Gunmen Kill Three Mourners, Kidnap Two in Fresh Benue Attack