Gunmen believed to be herdsmen have attacked Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa communities in North Bank, Makurdi, leaving a trail of death and destruction.
It was learnt that the attackers struck at around 12 am on Thursday, operating till 2 am, and carried sophisticated weapons, including guns and machetes.
Our correspondent gathered that the assailants broke into homes, forcefully breaking doors and windows, and butchered their victims.
According to eyewitness Aondofa, the attackers came unprovoked, killing many people, including women and children. Some residents managed to escape, while others fled for safety, with some still missing.
The death toll stands at 35, with some injured victims dying on their way to the hospital.
Residents of the affected and neighboring communities are now living in fear, unsure of who the next victims will be. The attack has left a sense of dread and uncertainty among the people.
A resident of the community who is a lecturer with Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, Dr. James Aji, escaped death narrowly as he reportedly came out at that time only to discover that his neighbours were being attacked, moved his family through the back door to escape.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Command for confirmation were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Udeme Edet, did not respond to requests for information.