Traders and customers who had come to the popular Abaji market in Benue have been left shaken after gunmen stormed the place to harm people.
Illustrative photo
Up to about five persons have been killed at Abaji market, in Katsina Ala Local Government of Benue State on Wednesday when some gunmen stormed the market and shot sporadically at sight.
According to Punch Metro, many people were said to have sustained serious gun injuries during the melee that accompanied the attack.
The attack came barely three weeks after some gunmen invaded Zaki Biam in Ukum Local Government Area of the state, where about 52 persons were killed.
Katsina Ala and Ukum local government areas are in the same axis controlled by a most wanted person in the state, Terwase Akwasa, aka ‘Gana.’
Sources said Abaji market is one of the major economic hubs of Katsina-Ala council, and activities in the market was said to be at its peak when some gunmen stormed the place in a Toyota car and fired at the people.
An eye witness told our correspondent that some unidentified persons had, on the eve of the market, set several houses in the community ablaze and escaped.
He said, “Some unidentified persons had, on the eve of the market day (Wednesday), sneaked into our village and set some houses ablaze and land ran away, leaving many inhabitants in fear.
“Later, some gunmen stormed the market at its peak and shot sporadically into the midst of the people, leaving several persons critically injured and five killed at the time of talking to you.”
However, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, said, “Only one person was killed, with three others left with gun injuries.”
He added that the residence of the traditional ruler of the community, Tor Abaji, was also torched; adding, “The incident was more of a reprisal attack for the previous burning of a house in the village.”
The corpses of the victims were said to have been taken to the morgue of the General Hospital, Katsina-Ala, just as the wounded victims were receiving treatment in the same hospital.