Manny Ita –
At least 13 people were killed on Friday when armed gunmen attacked Anwase Market in the Mbaikyor area of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, according to residents and local officials. Several women were also abducted during the assault.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived during peak market hours, opening fire indiscriminately on traders and customers. The sudden gunfire caused panic as people fled for safety in different directions. Many victims were reportedly shot at close range.
After the shootings, the assailants were said to have set parts of the market ablaze, destroying stalls and goods, before retreating into nearby hills with some women taken captive. The exact number of abducted victims had not been confirmed as of Friday evening.
An aide to the Kwande Local Government chairman confirmed the death toll and said the council chairman, Vitalis Neji, was working with security agencies to stabilise the area and prevent further attacks. Security forces were later deployed to the community, while residents began searching for missing relatives.
The Benue State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, and casualty figures remained subject to verification.
The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Kwande Local Government Area. Just days earlier, gunmen reportedly killed several people in a nearby community, heightening fears among residents and traders.
Benue State, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has faced persistent insecurity linked to armed attacks, kidnappings and communal violence. Local leaders have repeatedly called on state and federal authorities to strengthen security and protect rural communities and marketplaces from further violence.
