Three mourners were killed, two kidnapped when gunmen attacked people returning to a funeral in Benue

Gunmen on Saturday night ambushed a group of mourners returning from a funeral in Sati-Ikov Council Ward in Ushongo Local Government Area, killing three people and kidnapping two others.

Residents who spoke to journalists on Sunday said the assailants struck near the community, targeting people on their way back from funeral ceremonies.

A local resident, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, recounted the incident: “Several mourners returning from a funeral were attacked near our community, Sati-Ikov, on Saturday evening by local militia.

“Three of them were killed, and two others, a man and a woman, were kidnapped.”

Confirming the attack, the lawmaker representing Ushongo Constituency in the Benue State House of Representatives, Simon Gabo, condemned the ongoing violence linked to local militias in the area.

He said the community had been repeatedly attacked over the past two weeks, resulting in many deaths.

Gabo identified the victims as Bem Msughter of Mbakyombo, Daav-Ikov; Aondo Chia of Mbamegh, Daa-Ikov; and Mbakyor’s Terwase Week, Daav-Ikov.

He added that two other mourners—Aondongu Amos, a POS operator based in Sati-Ikov, and Mrs. Arinze, an Igbo patent medicine trader—was kidnapped in the attack.

The lawmaker, who also serves as Deputy Majority Leader of the Assembly, noted that a similar incident had claimed three lives in the same community two weeks earlier.

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He said, “I received a call from my people today (Sunday) around 4am that yesterday (Saturday) evening, they went for a funeral and on their way back, they encountered armed men.

“The gunmen shot and killed three of them and took their bags. They also robbed several residents there and kidnapped two people. The victims were all young men.

“In addition, we experience one or two similar incidents every week.”

Gabo further alleged that the attackers usually infiltrate the area from the neighboring Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, using the difficult terrain to their advantage.

“So they crossed from there to our side, attacked and returned to their side. It’s a mountainous area with extensive forests,” said Deputy Majority Whip.

He revealed that the matter had been reported to the police, adding that the Divisional Police Officer had deployed security personnel to the affected communities on Sunday morning.

Efforts to get a response from the Spokesman of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered at the time of filing this report.

The latest attacks have deepened anxiety among residents, as insecurity continues to rise across the state.