Four killed, five hurt as gunmen open fire on Benue market traders

Four people have been killed and five others wounded after gunmen attacked the weekly market at Abeda Shitile in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Witnesses said the attackers, believed to be armed bandits, rode in on motorcycles late on Tuesday, just as the market was winding down. They shot at traders and shoppers, then kept firing at others along the road as they fled.

A local youth leader, James Gbor, named the dead as Msoo Chan, Suurshater Iornumbe, Terkimbi Ikyereve and Pastor Terungwa Hungwa. He claimed that a Mobile Police unit based in the community only fired into the air and did not confront the gunmen.

One resident said the attack could be revenge for the killing of a suspected armed group leader known as Swaga by security forces a few weeks ago. This has not been confirmed.

The Benue State Police Command spokesman, Peter Aondongu, could not be reached for comment. Logo and other parts of Benue have suffered repeated deadly attacks on farming communities in recent years.