Herdsmen have killed nine people and wounded one other in at a market in Jande Mbatsada village on Easter Eve.
The Chairman of Gwer East LG, Timothy Adi confirmed atrack to newsmen on phone in Makurdi.
Adi said nine persons were killed, while one person was injured and he is admitted at the hospital.
According to him, the incident happened between 5-6pm on Saturday.
He noted that the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Ifeanyi Enemari, has visited the area and deployed security to the area, adding that the situation is calm now.
Meanwhile, Benue state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has condemned the attack carried out by suspected armed herdsmen on the peace-loving people of Mbalom in the Gwer-East LG.
The Governor described the act as unacceptable and a direct affront to the collective peace and security of the state.
Alia expressed deep sympathy to families affected by the attack and assured them that the government stands firmly with them in this difficult time.
Alia noted with grave concern the pattern of what appears to be calculated and selective attacks in parts of the state, stressing that such acts of terror, though increasingly hydra-headed in nature, would not be allowed to thrive.
He reiterated his unwavering resolve to confront and subdue all forms of criminality threatening the safety of Benue communities.
Amnesty International has condemned the killings
Amnesty International has condemned the killing of at least 10 people in Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, describing the incident as part of repeated failures by Nigerian authorities to protect residents.
In a statement on Monday via its official handle, the organisation said, “Gunmen invaded the village on Sunday while Easter celebrations were ongoing, leaving dozens of people severely injured.”
It added that “apart from killing people, the gunmen also set many homes and shops on fire,” stressing that the situation reflects a broader pattern of insecurity in the state.
The group further criticised the government’s response, stating, “The Nigerian authorities have failed the people of Benue State again and again,” and noted that “frequent attacks by gunmen have deprived thousands of people of their rights to life, physical integrity, liberty, freedom of movement and access to livelihoods.”
It added that more than 500,000 people have been displaced in the state, many living in camps with limited access to water, sanitation, food, and healthcare.
The attack in Mbalom is part of a wider wave of violence that disrupted Easter celebrations across northern Nigeria.
