At least 13 people have been killed by gunmen in an attack on Torkula and Udei villages in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident which occurred on Tuesday came days after two aid workers were killed by suspected herdsmen in Guma village, according to reports by THISDAY newspapers.
The report quoted a resident of Torkula village saying that a bus loaded with some mourners who were returning from a burial at Umenger village was attacked by gunmen around Torkula village, resulting in the death of three persons, while two others who sustained gunshot injuries were taken to the hospital in Makurdi.
According to the report, a three-month-old baby was also killed in the attack, while the mother, who was shot on her lap, survived.
In a separate attack on Tuesday night, Udei community was raided by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen which resulted in the death of eight persons.
Confirming the attacks, the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Caleb Aba, said 13 persons were killed in the two separate attacks on Udei and Torkula communities.
“It is true that there was an attack yesterday. There was a burial in Torkula and people who were coming back from the burial came under attack and about five people were killed.
“At about 10 pm yesterday, there was another attack at Branch Ude where about eight people were killed, totalling about 13 people.
“Two people were injured by the information I received and they are now receiving treatment in the hospital,” Aba stated.
When contacted, the spokeswoman of the state Police Command, Catherine Anene, said she was yet to be briefed on the attack.
