Residents of Ondo community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, fled their homes on Tuesday following a fresh attack by suspected armed herdsmen.
According to residents, the attackers invaded the community in the early hours of the morning and began shooting, forcing many families to escape to safer locations.
A native of the area and Labour Party House of Assembly candidate for the 2027 elections, Hon. Jimmy Nart, said the assault was still ongoing at the time the report was filed, The News Edition reports.
In a message shared during the attack, Nart alerted residents to the situation and urged them to take precautions for their safety.
The latest incident occurred less than 48 hours after suspected armed herdsmen reportedly attacked Otukpo-Nobi community in the same local government area, where more than 18 people were said to have lost their lives.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to confirm the number of casualties resulting from the latest attack in Ondo community.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to calls and text messages seeking confirmation.
Residents described the atmosphere in the area as tense, with many families reportedly fleeing their homes over fears of further violence.