By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
Suspected Fulani bandits on Thursday, January 19th, 2023 attacked Abagana community opposite the IDP camp in Makurdi, the Benue State capital wiping out an entire family of six.
Abagana is a sprawling community in Makurdi, along Makurdi-Abuja Road, housing thousands of people displaced from their ancestral lands and are living in the IDP camp set up by the state government.
The bandits who did not even come with herds of cattle were armed to the teeth, killing several other persons in sight leaving trails of blood.
So far, eight corpses including women and children have been recovered while several others seriously injured were evacuated to hospital for treatment.
In a press statement signed by Nathaniel Ikyur, Chief Press Secretary and made available to Nigerian NewsDirect, revealed that some of the bodies were beheaded and their heads taken away by the bandits.
Special Adviser on Security Mattters to the Benue State governor, Lt. Col Paul Hemba (rtd), who confirmed this said security personnel and other villagers have been combing the bushes for more victims who were said to have been shot by the invaders.
He said the attack was unprovoked as the villagers were already set to go to bed when they met their untimely deaths in the hands of the Fulani bandits.
According to the Security Adviser, the casualty figure may likely rise as some other persons who were fatally shot and wounded may not survive the injuries in their chest.
The Security Adviser gave the names of those killed as Gbashaor Acho, Gbashaor Joseph, Anshe Dekera, Ancho Kpor, Eunice Gbashaor, Sewuese Gbashaor, Terlumun Ajoh, Emberga Gbashaor and Donald Gbashaor.
He further disclosed that two of those killed were IDPs while the bandits stole two motorcycles belonging to the villagers.