The Caretaker Chairman of the LG council, Mr. Justine Shaku, confirmed the event over the phone with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
Benue – Nigeria: 18 individuals are said to have died in an alleged gunman’s attack on Mbache Ward in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on Friday. Verifying the incident with the Nigerian News Agency
The Caretaker Chairman of the LG council, Mr. Justine Shaku, confirmed the event over the phone with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
He stated that a father and his two children were also taken hostage during the attack. Shaku claimed to have gotten a distress call at 11:00 p.m. on Friday, informing him that gunmen were forcing residents to follow them as they went from house to house.
He claims that even though I alerted the military officials at Tor Donga right away, the shooters had already slain eighteen people and fled with three before they could get to the Mbache ward, where the tragedy was taking place.
All of them were assembled in one place and killed.
“This morning, I, the assembly member and adviser on legislative matters held a meeting and we communicated the development to the Commissioner of Police.
“He is on his way coming. Since he is coming we asked the villagers to wait and let him join us here in Katsina-Ala town before we visit the scene.”
“Yes some people were kidnapped, one man and his two children were kidnapped.
“In the recent days apart from what happened yesterday we have pockets of kidnappings.
“Kidnapping is also resurfacing in the area,” he said.
According to Shaku, the local terrorists “hit and run away,” employing guerilla warfare techniques. The council chairman expressed optimism that there was light at the end of the tunnel, despite the fact that the security situation in the council was not encouraging.
“In the month of June, the security situation was very bad but this month we have not witnessed such attacks.
“Even those they ransacked their houses have moved back to their homes and things appeared to be calm before this attack.
“They are local terrorists. I no longer call them bandits because I’m seeing hands/elements of terrorism in their activities.
“The people should be calm, Gov. Hyacinth Alia is committed to keeping our societies safe from such acts.
“They should be assured that very soon it will be things in the past,” he said
Additionally, SP Sewuese Anene, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), acknowledged the attack when contacted and stated that an investigation was still underway.
Anene said that with increased security, things had returned to usual in the region. In the face of provocation, he advised the inhabitants to keep composure and exercise restraint. (NAN)
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