About five people have been reportedly killed by suspected bandits in a renewed attack on theย Apa Local Goverment Area of Benue State.
Some communities, such as Edikpo, Opaha, Odugbo, Akpete, Ikobi, Akpata, Idiaha, Ochumekwu and Adija in Apa LGA, had been witnessing killings by suspected bandits in the past few weeks.
The latest attack in Adija village on Sunday claimed five lives, according to a resident, who gave his name as Adaji.
Adaji said that the bandits invaded the community and shot indiscriminately at people, adding that most of the victims were youths.
When contacted, theย leader of the cultural group in the council, Apa Development Association, Eche Akpoko, said that five youths were missing, adding that three bodies had been recovered.
He said, โI can describe it as routine attack, itโs true the armed herders attacked the community on Sunday and fiveย youths were missing and as we speak, they have been able to recover three bodies and two are yet to be found.
โWe donโt know whether those ones were actually killed or they are just missing.
โFor the people at the LG, the truth of the matter is that they are helpless and they are perplexed over the whole thing especially that they are not seeing governmentโs action visibly.
ย โThe people (attackers ) are around the places there; they are in the bush, in the forest around and they strike anytime they want. Itโs very sad.โ
Also, chairman of the local government, Ochayi Alidu, who confirmed theย attack, saying,ย โAt first, two bodies were found. And the other three missing persons were found on Monday to make it five.โ
The Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, when contacted, said she had yet to receive the report.