JUST-IN: Black Good Friday As Herders Kill 10 Worshippers In Benue Community

Armed men suspected to be herdsmen in a fresh attack in the early hours of Friday, ambushed worshippers on their way to commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, killing ten (10) of them.

The worshippers who were going to church for Good Friday were murdered at Gbagir community in Ukum local government area on the spot and injured scores others.

A local identified as Tersur Iornenge told LEADERSHIP on the phone that the heavily armed men ambushed worshippers on Friday.

“The armed men stormed the community at about 6:am when members of the community were going to the church to commemorate Good Friday, shooting sporadically at anyone in sight,” Iornenge said.

The source said community members are now conveying the corpses of the deceased to the palace of the traditional ruler, lamenting that the government has abandoned them.

“The armed men on Thursday also attacked a neighbouring Community, Chito, where they killed two farmers. They invaded our community today and killed 10 farmers on the spot including women and children,” the source said.

He added that over 25 farmers sustained varying degrees of injuries and many others still missing after the attack.

Confirming the attack and killings, the State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mathew Abo, said five bodies were recovered and three other people receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Zaki Biam.

According to the commissioner, “There is an influx of armed herders in Ukum recently and they came with a lot of cows and sheep grazing freely on peoples farms.

“The attack, which started Thursday lasted till Friday has spread to Logo and Katsina-Ala LGs although there is relative calm for now,” Abo said.

Also speaking, Chairman of Katsina-Ala local government, Justine Shaku told our correspondent on phone on Friday that although the council is calm, border communities are being threatened by the attack on Ukum.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command, Catherine Anene, said security personnel have been deployed to the area, adding there there security operations were ongoing in the area.