No fewer than 10 persons, including a tricycle operator, were on Tuesday morning, reportedly killed after bandits attacked a tricycle operator and other passersby in Ukoosaa-Atam, near Ayati, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state.
This incident happened less than 72 hours after two rival cult groups known as “Chain guys” and “Full Fire”, engaged in dirty fight for three days, resulting in the killing of over 30 persons and injured several others in the same axis between Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Reports said that the victims of the incident were passengers and driver of the tricycle, also known as “keke“, while some were persons who were riding on a bike and other community members.
A source told newsmen on phone that the people were killed on Monday evening at Ukoosaa-Atam, a community not far from Ayati in the area.
According to the source, unknown gunmen came and attacked a Keke, killing all the passengers and the operator with one motorcycle, (Baja) also attacked with the people on ride killed while several houses around the area were also not spared.
“The killing spot is Ukoosaa-Atam, a kilometer after Ayati town headquarters of Borikyo council ward ,Ukum LGA.
“This is one among the several attacks on the community.
“We are calling on the Benue State Government and Federal government to provide security as there is no single security personnel in the area.
“I want to take this opportunity to call on the federal and state governments to support and assist residents through the emergency agencies as their farm lands and houses are being destroyed,” he stated.
The Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Benue State Command, Catherine Anene, could not confirm as she said she was not in town as of the time of this report.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, said the government was aware and deeply concerned with the security situation in the state and especially in the Sankara axis.
Har said the state government was doing all it could to reduce insecurity in the state to the barest minimum.
He said the government was adopting measures including using the carrot and stick approach to ensure that the boys were persuaded to come out of their hiding and embrace a new lease of life.
