CHECKPOINTCHARLEY has been informed that gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, Tuesday morning stormed a catholic church in Ayar Mbalom village in Gwer East local Government Area of Benue State, killing 19 worshippers and burning down over 40 houses in the community.
Among those killed were Rev Fathers, Gor Joseph and Felix Tyolaha
The attackers also sacked the entire villagers. Many others were said to have been wounded.
Mr. Moses Iorapuu, Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi confirmed the atrocity in a statement, in which he called on the federal government to end the senseless killings in the state and the country at large.
“In their classic style, they burntdown homes, destroy food items and kill. The police seem to know nothing of the attacks which have been going on in other villages within Benue State since the Anti-Open Grazing Law came into effect last year,” he said.
This comes barely four days after herdsmen killed 10 people in Guma Local Government Area.
Recall also that few days earlier, Nigerian soldiers invaded Naka town in Gwer West Local Government Area of the state and burnt down dozens of houses.
One man was reportedly burnt to death in the attack by the soldiers, who claimed to be on a reprisal attack.
They had said that hoodlums in the community killed one of their colleagues.
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