Gunmen kill 3-month-old baby and 12 others in Benue village

Gunmen who attacked some villages in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State have reportedly killed a 3-month-old baby and 12 other people.

The gunmen first opened fire on travellers on Uikpam–Umenger road around 3 pm on Tuesday, July 20, killing five people including the infant. The remaining eight people were allegedly killed at Branch Ude at 10 pm on the same Tuesday.

Chairman of Guma LGA, Caleb Aba confirmed the incident.

Aba told Daily Trust, “There was a burial in Torkula and people who were coming back from the burial came under attack and about five people were killed.

“At about 10 pm, yesterday there was another attack at Branch Ude where about eight people were killed, bringing the total to 13 people killed only yesterday.

“Two people were injured by the information I received and they are now receiving treatment in the hospital.”

The deceased baby’s mother, Sewuese Baaji who also spoke to the publication said they had travelled from Makurdi to Umenger village for the burial of her husband’s relative.

Baaji said, “We were on our way returning to Makurdi from Umenger village en route Torkula where the body of the late man was buried when we suddenly ran into an ambush by the gunmen who opened gunfire at our vehicle at about 3 pm just before Uikpam community.

“Our driver did not stop but drove in the midst of the chaos until we got off the attackers’ web.

“The bullets however hit my baby (whom I carried on my laps) on the chest and my lap too. My baby died instantly."

Another wounded woman, Hambafan Akuma who was also carrying a baby, disclosed that a bullet tore into her wrapper and wounded her on the thigh. The baby was however saved from the rains of the bullets opened on their vehicle by the gunmen who took them unawares.

An eyewitness, David Mzer also said he was in a car with some friends on their way to Umenger for a political meeting, when they observed that the vehicle in front of them was fired at severally, forcing them to turn back to Makurdi.

Mzer said, “The herdsmen blocked the road, and opened fire on a Toyota Picnic, killing a 3 month-old baby who was shot in the chest, and his mother was shot on her lap.

“My colleague, who was directly behind the Toyota Picnic on seeing the herders shot at the car in front of him, turned and returned to Uikpam.

“The herders didn’t stop there, a certain Terver from Uvir, who was conveying his wife, had their life taken from them. A certain Solomon Kumaiin was butchered by the killers.

“The body of Terver and his wife were immediately taken to a mortuary in Daudu, while the injured were brought to BSUTH for treatment."