A violent attack on the Abeda Shitile community market in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State has left four people dead and five others injured. The incident occurred on Tuesday as traders were preparing to close the market, which holds every Tuesday. According to a youth leader, James Gbor, the four victims were identified as Msoo Chan, Suurshater Iornumbe, Terkimbi Ikyereve, and Pastor Terungwa Hungwa.
The attack was carried out by suspected armed bandits who arrived on motorcycles and opened fire on people at the market. An eyewitness reported that the gunmen continued shooting at people they encountered along the road as they left the area. The witness also alleged that a Mobile Police unit stationed in the community did not intervene during the attack, although officers fired shots into the air.
The identities of the five injured persons were also released as Gangera Kumater, Helen Iortyom, Terungwa Tsetim, Kumater Awua, and Orkertyo Iortyom. A resident suspected that the attack was retaliatory, following the killing of a suspected armed group leader known as Swaga by security operatives a few weeks earlier.
The resident claimed that the armed men had repeatedly visited the community in the past but usually took belongings, money, or motorcycles without killing residents. However, during Tuesday's assault, the attackers appeared more interested in killing people than stealing property. The circumstances surrounding the attack and the residents' claims about its motive could not be independently established.
Efforts to reach Peter Aondongu, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, for comments were unsuccessful. The police had not commented on the incident as of the time of filing this report. This attack adds to recurring violence in Logo Local Government Area, where residents have repeatedly reported attacks on communities and security personnel.
The latest attack is not an isolated incident in the area. On September 14, two newly deployed Mobile Police officers were killed in an ambush while escorting the Divisional Police Officer of Ayilamo back to the community. This incident occurred four days after suspected armed attackers invaded Ayilamo on September 10, killing four police officers and seven civilians.
The police confirmed the deaths, bringing the number of officers killed in the two attacks to six within four days. Residents had expressed concern over the movement of armed men through forests and abandoned settlements in the area, calling for sustained security operations to prevent further attacks. The latest killings in Abeda Shitile are likely to renew concerns over the security situation in Logo and the safety of residents in its vulnerable communities.
Key points
- Four people were killed and five others injured in the attack on Abeda Shitile community market.
- The attack was suspected to be retaliatory following the killing of a suspected armed group leader.
- The incident adds to recurring violence in Logo Local Government Area, with residents calling for sustained security operations.
