Gunmen suspected of being herdsmen attacked Tse Fela, Mbabuande, and Tse Akyegh council wards in Benue State's Gwer West local government area, killing the council ward commander of the Benue State Community Volunteers Guard and six farmers.
According to locals who did not want their names printed, the suspected herders launched an attack on the two communities at about 3 p.m., shooting sporadically at anyone in sight.
"Seven farmers, including the ward commander of the Community Volunteer Guards, were killed, while scores sustained varying degrees of injury, and properties worth millions of naira, including crops, were destroyed," said another local, Umee.
It was also reported that some members of the two communities observed strange movement around the area and raised the alarm for people to run to safety but before then, they were trapped by the attackers.
The district head of Ikaaghev Chief Adi-Bata who confirmed the killing of his subjects said, but for the alarm raised by members of the community the number of casualties would have been very high and called on the security agencies stationed in the local government to improve on their level of patrol to build hope in the remaining communities.
Ikaaghev and Mbabuande are the recent council ward of Gwer West that was attacked in recent time and many people displaced from their homes.