From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Rival militia gangs have carried out a series of attacks in Katsina Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, killing nine people.
The incidents, Daily Sun gathered, began last Tuesday, January 6, 2024 and culminated in the killing of nine people on Wednesday.
A source from the area, who didn’t want to be named, told newsmen in Makurdi, yesterday, that the coordinated serial attacks were carried on in parts of Mbatyula Council Ward by armed men suspected to be a militia group from Mbayongo Council Ward.
Mbayongo Council Ward is the council ward where the late kingpin, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, comes from.
He said, “We gathered that, on Tuesday, the armed men stormed Atumbe, a settlement in Mbatyula Council Ward, set houses ablaze and made away with some properties. On the same day, the group moved to Kur Hile, another settlement in Mbatyula and also burnt some houses. Although, no casualties were recorded. Similarly, Anyom settlement, still in Mbatyula Council Ward, got its share of attack from the same group at the early hours of Wednesday, January 17, 2024.”
The source said the gang, who visited Anyom, on Wednesday, killed nine people and burnt several houses to ashes with properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
Confirming the incident, the Caretaker Chairman, Katsina Ala LGA, Mr Francis Zamzam, said: “Really, the incident happened. It’s between the rival militia. It’s among themselves. They are burning houses of innocent people and many people are suffering. That is what is happening. Nine people have been killed between Monday and now,” Zamzam said.