A violent raid on Sai village in the Mbajir Council Ward of Katsina-Ala, Benue State, has resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals and left over 15 people with injuries. The assault occurred early Wednesday morning when armed assailants, believed to be herdsmen, stormed the area at approximately 1 a.m. while residents were sleeping.
Local accounts indicate that the attackers arrived from Taraba State equipped with AK-47 rifles, opening fire on the unsuspecting population and forcing many to flee into the night. Several residents remain unaccounted for, and search operations are currently underway. The wounded have been transported to NKST Hospital in Sai, with severe cases slated for transfer to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.
This incident follows the recent murder of Ardo Risku Muhammad, the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, who was ambushed in Otukpo LGA. Katsina-Ala Local Government Chairman, Justine Shaku, has arrived in the community to evaluate the impact of the attack, noting that the area is currently gripped by tension.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has strongly condemned the violence, labeling the perpetrators as terrorists hiding behind the guise of herdsmen. Through his spokesperson, Tersoo Kula, the governor expressed his condolences and ordered security forces to bolster their presence in the region. He further pledged that the state would intensify efforts to secure farming communities and capture those responsible for the carnage.
