Gunmen Ambush Mourners at Burial in Benue, Kill 3 and Abduct 2

Three people are dead and two others missing after armed militia attacked mourners returning from a burial ceremony in Sati Ikov, Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State, on Saturday night.

Community members who spoke to PUNCH Metro said the attackers struck as mourners made their way home, ambushing them close to Sati-Ikov village — a tactic residents say local militias have used with increasing frequency in the area.

The lawmaker representing Ushongo State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Simon Gabo — who also serves as Deputy Majority Chief Whip — confirmed the attack and named those killed as Bem Msughter from Mbakyombo, Daav-Ikov; Aondo Chia from Mbamegh, Daav-Ikov; and Sunday Terwase of Mbakyor, Daav-Ikov.

Two people were abducted: Aondongu Amos, a POS operator from Mbanyion, and Mrs Arinze, an Igbo patent medicine dealer working in Sati-Ikov.

A Community Under Siege

Gabo said Saturday’s attack was not isolated — three more community members were killed by the same militia groups two weeks earlier. He described the Ushongo area as having been turned into “a battlefield” and called for stronger intervention from security forces.

Benue State has faced persistent violence from armed herder-farmer clashes and militia activity for years, with Ushongo among the worst-affected areas. There was no official response from the Benue State Government or security agencies at the time of publication.

Sources: Punch, Nigerian Bulletin, Leadership