GUNMEN KILL ‘MANY’ IN BENUE MARKET

Unknown gunmen yesterday stormed the famous Zaki Biam yam market in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State and killed many people.

The State Police Commissioner, Bashir Makama, has confirmed the attack, but said the command was yet to confirm the number of those killed. Some put the casualty at 30.

Daily Trust gathered that the victims were mostly women and children who were at the market before the gunmen who rode on motorcycles as well as Toyota Corolla cars opened fire on them about 3:00pm.

Witnesses said at the time of this report that the gunmen razed several buildings and a patrol station in the area which was still on fire while many people sustained injuries in the course of the pandemonium that ensued.

It was learnt that the gunmen drove into the market from the Shitile axis of Kastina Ala local government area and started shooting sporadically, and setting ablaze houses within the area.

The reason for the killings and the people likely behind the act could not yet be ascertained by press time.

It would be recalled that unknown gunmen reportedly killed 10 people in two separate communities of Katisna-Ala and Ukum LGA of the state few days ago in a similar manner with five of the victims hacked to death by flogging on Wednesday night in Mbayongo district of Katsina-Ala area while the other five persons, including a woman were killed by sporadic gunshot on Thursday night in Ayati village of Ukum LGA.