No fewer than three persons were killed while another sustained injuries on Thursday following fresh attacks by suspected armed men in parts of Benue State.
The incidents occurred in Buruku, Okokolo and Naka local government areas, where residents were thrown into panic by coordinated assaults in the early hours of the day.
In Buruku Local Government Area, gunmen reportedly invaded Mbakura Mbagen community at about 3:30 a.m., killing two members of the state’s Civil Protection Guards.
The victims were identified as John Kunde and Sughter Orbunde.
During the attack, the assailants were said to have abducted a resident, Aondowase Ager, and made away with a Bajaj motorcycle belonging to one of the deceased guards.
The bodies of the slain security operatives were later deposited at a mortuary in Ugbema, while efforts were intensified to rescue the abducted victim.
Another incident was recorded hours later at Ejima community in Okokolo Local Government Area, where suspected armed herders reportedly opened fire around 6:00 a.m.
One resident, Daniel Matthew, was injured by gunshots during the attack.
Security operatives were subsequently deployed to the area and adjoining communities to track the attackers and prevent further violence.
In a separate attack at Ammuneke village in Naka Local Government Area, two young men, identified as Akula Gugun, 27, and Odi Shimayoho, 28, were killed.
Their remains were taken to the Agagbe morgue as security agencies combed nearby bushes in search of the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, a resident of Usen village in Buruku Local Government Area, Benjamin Terver Awuna, has been arrested over alleged collaboration with armed herders.
Sources said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect allegedly received airtime valued at N6,000 as compensation for supplying information to facilitate attacks on local communities.