MIDNIGHT ATTACKS: Gunmen kill 45 in Benue, Taraba, Zamfara

-Dozens missing

The killing spree continued in Benue and Taraba states yesterday, with gunmen killing 25 villagers in simultaneous assaults overnight. While three residents lost their lives in Benue, not less than 22 were killed in Taraba.

Four residents, informed Premium Times in separate exchanges yesterday morning that the killings occurred in two communities in Logo local government area, Benue state, and Wukari local government area of Taraba State. And in a similar tragic pattern, armed bandits also struck yesterday in what is believed to be a reprisal on Kurukuru, Bawar Daji and Sabon Birni villages in Anka local government area of Zamfara state, killing 20.

A resident, who spoke to Blueprint on telephone under anonymity, said the bandits invaded the communities in the midnight and sporadically shot at their victims. Benue But the Benue attacks came barely 24 hours after 10 people were killed by gunmen said to be spotting military camouflage. “The first attack happened in Tse Hwer in Ukemberyge/ Tsweray Council Ward in Logo local government around 6:30 p.m. to this morning,” said a senior state government officia who did not want to be named, saying he had been warned by federal authorities for talking to the media in the past. “Some people are saying their families are missing, but we haven’t been able to confirm how many exactly,” he said.

The victims were said to be two men and one woman. Taraba Upon arriving Jendeikura in Wukari local government area of Taraba state at 6.00 p.m, the gunmen appeared determined to wipe out the entire community, said a resident of the area who said he had been to the village this morning to witness the aftermath.

“It was like they wanted to be sure that all the villagers were killed before they would run back to their hideouts,” said 48-year-old Isaac Ihiev. “They killed 22 people who were living there.” Ihiev said three of the attackers who were killed when some youth responded to the assault were found in military uniform.

“Three of them were killed and they dressed like soldiers when their bodies were moved out from the bush,” Ihiev said, adding that he lives in a nearby village. He said efforts were

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