9 killed, dozens of children missing in Nigeria attack: Official

By Timothy Olanrewaju

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) - Nine people have been killed and dozens of children are missing after gunmen attacked northcentral Benue State in Nigeria, an official said Thursday.

Some gunmen suspected to be herders invaded the Ugboju Community in the Agatu Local Government and shot into houses, Chairman of Agatu Local Government, Yakubu Ochefu, told Anadolu Agency.

"We recovered nine dead bodies following the attack on Ugboju on Wednesday. Several children and girls are still missing, some of them probably abducted by the armed herders," he said.

Ochefu said the gunmen shot into resident homes while occupants were sleeping.

He said the community has been deserted since Wednesday as survivors fled to neighboring villages.

Ochefu appealed to the Federal Government to establish a military outpost in the area to halt attacks by herders.

Ochei Thomas told Anadolu he escaped by divine intervention. He said he escaped through the backdoor of his house while the attackers shot into a nearby house.

Attacks by herders and fighting with farmers have been frequent in the northcentral region since 2020 after a ban by the Benue State government on open grazing of cattle, especially around farmlands.