At least 15 individuals have reportedly lost their lives in a renewed attack by armed herdsmen in Anyiin, located in the Logo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State. The violent incident also resulted in several injuries and many residents being declared missing by their families.
This attack follows a similar incident in Ayilamo town, which occurred approximately three weeks earlier and resulted in numerous fatalities.
Chief Joseph Anawa, a community leader, confirmed that the latest attack took place on Wednesday around 6:30 PM. He expressed grave concern as residents began to flee the area in fear of additional assaults.
“The militia herdsmen unleashed terror on Anyiin town in an operation that started at about 6:32 PM, leaving over 15 people dead and some with various degrees of injuries while others are missing,” Anawa stated.
Among those killed was Mr. Orihundu Ati, a retired primary school supervisor, along with the son of the Kindred Head of Mbawuave and the son of Tordoo Suswam, a former Chief of Staff to a previous Logo LG Chairman. Anawa also mentioned the death of the son of Mr. Uyange Chembe, a younger brother to the late District Head of Ukemberagya, Zaki John Chembe.
He detailed that the attackers, numbering over 200 and heavily armed with weapons such as AK-47 rifles, conducted a coordinated operation that lasted approximately three hours. The attackers caught the community by surprise, surrounding the town and firing sporadically into the air. As residents fled for safety, many fell into the carefully planned ambush set by the assailants.