PHOTOS: 10 Feared Dead as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Deadly Midnight Attack on Benue Community

No fewer than 10 people have reportedly been killed following a deadly overnight attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Sai Community in Mbajir Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attackers were said to have stormed the quiet farming community at about 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, unleashing terror on residents who were asleep in their homes.

According to eyewitness accounts, the heavily armed assailants moved from house to house, firing indiscriminately and forcing terrified villagers to flee into nearby bushes in a desperate bid to escape the violence.

A resident of the community, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told journalists during a telephone interview that the attack left several people dead, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

He disclosed that local youths who returned to the village after the attackers had fled recovered at least 10 bodies, with fears that the death toll could rise as search efforts continue.

“Some armed herders invaded Sai Community around 2 a.m. They went from one house to another, shooting sporadically and causing panic. Residents ran into the bush to save their lives,” the source said.

“When we returned to the community at daybreak, youths recovered 10 bodies, while several injured victims were rushed to a hospital in Katsina-Ala for medical treatment.”

The source added that some residents remain unaccounted for, raising concerns that more casualties could be discovered as security agencies and local volunteers continue search operations in the area.

The latest attack has once again heightened fears over the persistent insecurity in parts of Benue State, where farming communities have repeatedly come under violent attacks linked to suspected armed herders.

As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident, while authorities were yet to confirm the exact number of casualties.

Residents have called on the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.