Gunmen kill 23, set two military vehicles ablaze in Benue attack

Yesterday was a terrible day in Benue State as a group of unidentified gunmen terrorised the Akpuna village, killing 23 people.

Along with shooting sporadically, the group reportedly burned two military vehicles and homes on fire as soldiers retreated.

The village of Akpuna is located in the Benue Northwest senatorial zone's Mbaterem, Ukum Local Government Area.

Paul Unande, a former Customs officer who lost his son in the chaos, described the incident that left the town in ruins while recounting how the gunmen broke into Akpuna hamlet in the early hours of Saturday.

“They shot sporadically into the air to scare away villagers and in attempt to escape in the melee that ensued many people were killed and over 100 houses set ablaze,” Unande revealed during a telephone conversation with our correspondent.

The bereaved Unande, who lost his 25-year-old son in the brutal assault, claimed that the heavily armed, highly skilled intruders went unopposed for about two and a half hours.

Unande went on to say that the as-yet-unidentified gunmen shot at soldiers and torched two military trucks on fire as they fled along a military checkpoint at Tine Nune.

When The Nation got in touch with the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Kate Anene, a Superintendent of Police, verified that a militia gang had stormed Akpuna community and had been firing intermittently.

Anene said, “On 8/7/2023 at about 12pm, a militia gang invaded Akpuna village, Ukum LGA of Benue state and were shooting sporadically. Upon receipt of this information, police teams in collaboration with other security agencies rushed to the area and engaged these bandits who were eventually repelled.

“Eight corpses were recovered at the scene while many other injured persons were taken to hospital for treatment. Operation is ongoing in the area,” she stressed. 

Source