Scores of residents have been feared dead following an early morning attack on Sai Community in Mbajir Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to community sources, the attackers stormed the area around 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday, opening fire on residents and forcing many to flee into nearby bushes.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said at least 10 bodies had been recovered, while several injured victims were taken to a hospital in Katsina-Ala for treatment.
"Armed herders invaded Sai Community around 2 a.m. They went from house to house, shooting indiscriminately and forcing people to run for safety. When we returned at daybreak, youths recovered 10 bodies, while many injured people had already been taken to the hospital," the source said.
The Benue State Police Command had yet to officially comment on the incident as of the time of filing this report. Efforts to reach the command's spokesperson were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
Reacting to the attack, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings and directed security agencies to immediately reinforce the area to prevent further attacks.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to Sai Community and surrounding areas and called for a manhunt to bring the attackers to justice.
He also urged security agencies to ensure farmers could continue their activities without fear of further violence.
"The attack, which happened in the early hours of July 1, claimed many lives and left several others injured. It was reportedly carried out by terrorists posing as herdsmen," the statement said.
Governor Alia described the incident as a senseless and cowardly attack on innocent residents, especially at a time when farmers had returned to their communities to cultivate their land.
He said the assault was aimed at disrupting peace and threatening food production in the state.
The governor sympathised with the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery, assuring residents that his administration would not relent in protecting lives and property.
"We will not allow criminals to drive our people away from their ancestral homes or destroy their means of livelihood. We remain committed to building a peaceful and secure Benue State," he said.
Katsina-Ala Local Government Area has repeatedly witnessed violent attacks linked to armed herders and criminal groups, making it one of the state's major security flashpoints.
