Panic gripped Mnashisha community in the Tongov area of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State following renewed attacks by suspected armed bandits, allegedly led by a notorious gang leader known as Jugu.
Residents said the assailants first struck earlier in the week, abducting several persons from their homes, before returning on Friday evening for another raid that reportedly left more people kidnapped and others injured.
A community source, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, said the heavily armed attackers arrived from the Kam axis at about 4pm on Friday.
“The gang led by a notorious leader known as Jugu came with his boys around 4 pm on Friday.
This time, among those they took away was a young man, Ayange Ikpa,” he said.
According to the source, the abductors were yet to contact families of the victims for ransom, a development that has heightened fear and uncertainty in the community.
“So far, they have not requested any ransom, but family members are making frantic efforts to secure the release of those taken away,” he explained.
The repeated attacks have reportedly thrown residents into deep fear, with many now afraid to sleep in their homes at night.
Community members have appealed to security agencies to urgently intervene and restore peace to the area, warning that the situation could spiral out of control.
Locals also expressed concern that the kidnappings may be part of a wider plan to ignite fresh violence among rival criminal gangs operating in the axis.
“We suspect these attacks are meant to trigger another round of crisis between rival gangs fighting for dominance.
Kidnapping innocent people may lead to reprisals.
We hope it does not escalate because we do not understand what they aim to achieve,” he said.