Thirteen people were brutally killed on Sunday morning in an attack by suspected herdmen in the Azege settlement, located in Mbaya, Tombo Ward of Logo Local Government Area, Benue State.
The immediate past Caretaker Chairman of Logo LGA, Benjamin Uzenda, confirmed the tragic incident, stating that it occurred around 7 a.m. as residents were preparing to attend their morning church services.
According to Uzenda, the assailants were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons. Upon arrival, they launched a coordinated and deliberate attack on the unsuspecting villagers. He described the incident as premeditated, with the attackers opening fire indiscriminately on unarmed civilians, including women and children.
In addition to the gunfire, some victims were gruesomely butchered after being shot.
The attack also included arson and the destruction of farmland and crops in the area, leaving the community devastated.
Uzenda revealed that the attackers operated unhindered for several hours before fleeing the scene, escaping before security forces could arrive.
This incident highlights the ongoing security crisis in Benue State, where armed herdsmen have frequently unleashed violence on communities.
While Benue grapples with these issues, similar challenges are unfolding in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, where communities are enduring a fresh wave of banditry and kidnapping under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
