Armed men reportedly attacked and killed three persons who were returning from a burial ceremony in Sati-Ikov Council Ward of Ushongo Local Government Area, Benue State, on Saturday night.
Residents who spoke on Sunday said the victims were ambushed close to the community after attending a burial ceremony.
A local source, who requested anonymity, said the attackers also abducted two others during the assault.
“Some mourners who were returning from a burial were attacked close to our community, Sati-Ikov, on Saturday night by local militias.
“Three of them were killed, and two others, a male and a female, were kidnapped,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the lawmaker representing Ushongo Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Simon Gabo, condemned the repeated attacks in the area, blaming armed groups operating locally.
He said insecurity in the community had worsened in recent weeks.
He identified the deceased as Bem Msughter from Mbakyombo, Daav-Ikov; Aondo Chia from Mbamegh, Daa-Ikov; and Sunday Terwase of Mbakyor, Daav-Ikov.
Gabo also named the abducted victims as Aondongu Amos, a POS operator, and Mrs Arinze, an Igbo patent medicine dealer.
“ I received a call from my people today (Sunday) at about 4 am that yesterday (Saturday) night, they went for a burial and on their way back, they ran into armed men.
“The armed men shot and killed three of them and collected their bags. They also robbed some residents there and kidnapped two people. The victims were all young men.
“Apart from that, we have had one or two such incidents every other week,” he said.
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The lawmaker further alleged that the attackers often cross over from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area into Ushongo to carry out raids before escaping back.
“So they cross from there to our side, attack and return to their side. It is a mountainous area with large forests,” he added.
Gabo said he had reported the matter to the police, adding that security personnel had already been deployed to the area.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as calls were not answered at the time of filing this report.
The incident has further heightened fear among residents amid worsening insecurity in parts of Benue State.