The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that nine persons lost their lives in the Saturday, April 4, armed herdsmen attack on Jande, Mbatsada, Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The incident occurred as Christians observed activities marking Easter on the Christian calendar. The command had earlier on Saturday stated that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had deployed Special Tactical Teams to Benue State to ensure a hitch-free Easter celebration.
However, shortly after, Mbatsada was attacked, with the police saying the incident followed “heightened tensions within the locality.”
“A combined team of security personnel conducted a thorough search of the affected community, during which nine (9) corpses were recovered and have been evacuated to the General Hospital, Aliade,” part of the police statement read.
The police said a “comprehensive investigation is ongoing to ascertain the facts and ensure that all those responsible are identified and brought to justice.”
This marks the second armed attack on Mbalom in April, the first having occurred on April 24, 2018. During that early morning service at St. Ignatius Catholic Mission, Ukpo, Ayar Mbalom, two Catholic priests and 17 parishioners were killed.
A local source claimed that 17 people were killed in the latest attack, but TNT could not independently verify this figure.
