By Cynthia Abah
At least 30 lives were brutally cut short in a wave of violent attacks on Azege settlement in Logo Local Government Area and Adabo village in Katsina-Ala LGA, Benue State.
The assaults, carried out by suspected bandits between Sunday morning and the early hours of Monday, have left communities in shock and mourning.
According to Joseph Anawah, a community leader and former media aide to Senator Gabriel Suswam, the carnage began when over 300 heavily armed assailants stormed Azege and surrounding areas on Sunday morning.
Crossing from Nasarawa State, the attackers wreaked havoc, leaving a trail of destruction.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the bandits, suspected to be hired mercenaries, overwhelmed local security forces until a military jet intervened, forcing their retreat.
The Chairman of Logo LGA, Clement Kev, reported the recovery of 17 bodies and confirmed that 37 others sustained critical injuries.
He alleged that the attackers, herdsmen from Nasarawa State, claimed ownership of land in Tombo council ward. Additional security forces have since been deployed to the region to prevent further bloodshed.
In a separate assault on Monday at 2 a.m., armed marauders targeted Adabo village and Tse Gwebe settlement in Katsina-Ala LGA.
The attack left 10 people dead, property destroyed, and families displaced.
Katsina-Ala Chairman, Justine Shaku, condemned the devastation, describing the assailants as heavily armed and ruthless in their mission.
The Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State, Catherine Anene, confirmed the Logo attack, stating that five bodies had been recovered but did not comment on the Katsina-Ala incident.
As residents reel from the tragedy, efforts to locate missing persons and bring the perpetrators to justice continue.
The assaults underscore the escalating insecurity in the region and the urgent need for decisive government intervention.
