A wave of violence has claimed eleven lives in remote settlements of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area in Benue State following coordinated attacks by armed individuals over the weekend.
The deadly assaults began Saturday evening around 8 pm and continued into Sunday morning, targeting multiple villages including Dikpo, Imande Gberihwa, Utange council ward, Tse-Ajo, and Mbagena-Kpav, according to local accounts.
“Five members of a single family were among those killed,” revealed a resident who requested anonymity for safety concerns. “The actual death toll might exceed the confirmed figure of eleven, as many residents remain unaccounted for,” the source added during a telephone conversation.
Displacement has become widespread, with numerous families fleeing to neighboring areas for safety. One displaced resident described seeking refuge across the state border in Taraba, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Justine Shaku, Chairman of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, verified the attacks and confirmed that beyond the eleven fatalities, seven individuals suffered serious injuries. The chairman further noted that attackers burned numerous homes and destroyed food reserves, compounding the humanitarian impact.
When approached for comment, Mohammed Risku, the state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), stated he had no knowledge of the incident but would consult with the organization’s representatives in the affected region to gather additional information.
The attacks represent the latest chapter in ongoing security challenges facing rural communities in Benue State, where inter-communal tensions and armed violence have created persistent instability in recent years.
