By Rayyanu Abubakar
At least twenty-three dead bodies were recovered early Wednesday after armed men opened fire on residents of Gbeji rural town in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims include seventeen villagers, five herders and one policeman.
Witnesses said the incident, which happened around 1:00 am had forced the Gbeji dwellers to leave their homes.
A resident of the area told newsmen in a phone interview that among the people killed was one policeman drafted to quell the attacks on the villagers.
Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Benue Governor, Lt. Col. Hemba, said the killing of the 18 persons by suspected herders was reported to him.
When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, said the attack was carried out by herdsmen who were on a revenge mission following the killing of their five kinsmen within the past two days in separate incidences around the border villages of Benue and Taraba States.
Abbas, however, confirmed that a total of ten people were killed, including five herdsmen, one policeman and four villagers at the time of filing this report.
Abbas says that they had to mobilize men to contain the situation from escalating, and ensure that normalcy is restored in the area.
