At least seven people were reportedly killed by suspected armed herders in the Channel One community, a border settlement in the Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.The community, according to a resident who identified himself simply as Amos, is located along the Arufu-Wukari Road in Taraba State.Amos told NGGOSSIPS Metro in a telephone interview on Monday that the incident occurred on Sunday night.According to Amos, the suspected herders invaded the community at about 11pm on Sunday and shot sporadically, forcing residents to flee for safety.A community leader in the area, Joseph Anawah, who corroborated the account, said six people were killed.Anawah listed the victims as Akor Gwakyaa, Msooter Gwakyaa, Aondoungwa Michael, Vershima Michael, Terna Michael, and Msughter Terzungwe.He added, “It is also confirmed that some people, whose names are yet to be identified, sustained life-threatening injuries and have been hospitalised at different medical facilities in Anyiin town.“Those in critical condition, numbering about seven, have been taken to Ugba town in Logo LGA for further treatment.“The attackers came in large numbers, armed with firearms, and rode on motorcycles. It is alleged that they are camped at Shaor, one of the deserted villages identified in several intelligence reports as a base for marauders in Logo LGA.”Anawah said residents of the affected and neighbouring communities had fled to other villages for fear of further attacks.He appealed to both the state and federal governments to intensify coordinated clearance operations to dislodge the suspected marauders from Shaor and other deserted villages identified in previous intelligence reports.He also called for a joint inter-state security task force involving Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states to monitor cross-border movements of suspected attackers and block routes used to launch attacks on border communities in Logo LGA.Also confirming the incident, the chairman of Logo LGA, Clement Kav, said seven people were killed and four others injured during the Sunday night attack.“They killed seven people and injured four others. They came, carried out the attack, and fled,” he said.Kav added that he had briefed the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, and the Special Adviser on Homeland Security on the incident.The state Police Command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had yet to receive the report and promised to provide updates once available.As of the time of filing this report, she had yet to respond.Killings by suspected armed herders and local bandits have intensified in recent days across the state.Last Thursday, gunmen invaded the Olegabulu community in Agatu LGA, killing a traditional ruler, his wife, his son, and two others.On Saturday night, armed men suspected to be local militias killed three mourners and kidnapped two others while returning from a burial ceremony in Sati Ikov Council Ward of Ushongo Local Government Area.
