A soldier and several other residents have been confirmed dead following an hours-long attack by suspected herdsmen on Ikobi-Ochekwu community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State late Wednesday night.
The armed assailants reportedly stormed the community under the cover of darkness, unleashing sporadic gunfire and setting homes ablaze in a siege that lasted for several hours.
“The attackers stormed the village under the cover of darkness, shooting sporadically at residents and setting houses ablaze,” a resident, Ochofie, who witnessed the incident said.
The full casualty count remains uncertain as many residents are still unaccounted for. However, local sources revealed that among the victims was a soldier who was said to have recently tied the knot.
“In the early hours of Thursday, two more bodies were discovered in nearby Ijaha, identified as Sani Ngbede and Aduba Paul Ogboyi,” a source said.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement, and the identities of other victims, including the fallen soldier, have not been formally confirmed at the time of this report.
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