Protesters block varsity road over fresh attack on Benúe community
Protesters on Monday blocked the North Bank-Uniagric road in Antsa community over an attack by armed men which reportedly left 10 people injured in Makurdi LGA of Benúe State.
Antsa community sits between the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM), formerly Federal University of Agriculture (FUAM), and the Alfred Akawe Torkula Polytechnic in Makurdi’s North Bank area.
Our correspondent reports that the blockage of the road left motorists, especially staff and students of the two tertiary institutions, stranded for many hours.
A resident, simply identified as Dave, told our correspondent on telephone that the armed men came around 1am and attacked some traders who were at the time still attending to their customers.
He said, “Some people were still selling drinks outside and cooking Indomie when the attackers came upon them. When the attackers came, they started slaughtering people. They sliced their bodies. About six people had their bodies sliced. One had her fingers cut off.
“We also heard that they went to the Akawe Torkula Polytechnic and cut some people there. Soldiers came that night and were shooting and the attackers ran away.
“The community’s boys came out this morning to block the road for hours. They are still burning tyres.”
The Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, confirmed the incident to journalists but did not give details.
Contacted, the police spokeswoman in the state, SP Catherine Anene, in
a text message to our correspondent, also confirmed the incident.
The text reads: “Unigric
road incident confirmed. Six persons were injured and are currently receiving treatment.”