By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

Seven persons were at the early hours of Tuesday murdered in a fresh suspected  armed herdsmen attack in Naka community of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State. 

The attack also letf some of the residents with injuries while many were said to have fled their homes for fear of being killed by the marauders. 

Gwer West LGA is one of the hotbeds of armed herdsmen activities who had in the past past repeatedly attacked communities in the LGA including road users plying the collapsed Makurdi-Naka Road. 

It was gathered from a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity that before Tuesday’s attack, the armed herders had stormed the area with herds that grazed freely on farmlands destroying the people’s crops. 

According to the source, the marauders stormed the community on motorbikes at about 5am and started shooting sporadically at people’s houses and forcing them out of their sleep. 

He said, “the sound of gun shot at about 5am woke the people and forced them out of their homes. And as they tried to escape they were gunned down by the invaders. 

“Seven persons who could not escape were gruesomely killed while some others sustained injuries. 

“As we speak the people are fleeing their homes and the community for fear of a repeat of the attack which was completely unprovoked.” 

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene said she was yet to receive details of the incident.