Gunmen Slay 15 Villagers Gathering Cashew nuts in Benue

On Friday, armed assailants launched a deadly attack on the Ojantele community in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, resulting in the deaths of a minimum of 15 villagers.

Eyewitnesses reported that the deceased were part of a group that had ventured into surrounding bushes to collect fallen cashew nuts after recent rainfall.

Victims, who primarily included women and young individuals from nearby communities such as Asaba and Akpete, were gathering cashew nuts around Ogbaulu when they were unexpectedly fired upon by the attackers.

The assault reportedly left at least 15 individuals dead and many others injured.

Residents conveyed that the assailants had arrived on the scene with a substantial herd of cattle, initiating random gunfire as farmers returned home from their fields.

A witness, who requested anonymity, relayed via telephone to journalists in Makurdi that at least 15 corpses had been recovered by the time of reporting.

Additionally, 11 other persons suffered varying levels of injuries and were transported to a medical facility in Ugbokpo, which serves as the administrative center of the Apa Local Government Area, for urgent care.

Some locals also mentioned that several individuals were unaccounted for post- attack, including one woman who was allegedly kidnapped during the incident.

The chairman of the Apa Local Government Area, Adams Ochega, acknowledged the incident during a telephone conversation with our correspondent but noted he had yet to receive full details about the assault as he was out on official duties.

He has requested additional time to gather accurate information concerning the event.

As of this report, the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, had not answered attempts at contact via calls or text messages for comments.