Suspected armed herdsmen on Friday afternoon attacked Anwase Market in Mbaikyor, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, abducting several women and setting the market on fire.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the community from a nearby mountain, shooting sporadically to create panic before proceeding to burn market stalls and seize their victims. The attackers reportedly operated for several minutes before fleeing the scene.
Sources within the community said the gunmen forced the abducted women towards the mountainous area surrounding the town. Security operatives were said to have arrived after the attackers had already escaped.
An eyewitness who spoke to our correspondent said the market was engulfed in flames before residents could mount any coordinated resistance. According to the source, traders and buyers fled in different directions in a desperate attempt to escape the violence.
“The shooting started suddenly. People began running immediately. Before anyone could react properly, they had already set parts of the market on fire and taken some of the women away,” the witness said.
The full extent of casualties and the number of persons abducted could not be immediately confirmed as of the time of filing this report. Community members were reportedly making efforts to assess the damage and account for missing persons.
Attempts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer for official confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to his phone were not responded to.
The latest incident adds to growing security concerns in parts of Benue State, where communities have repeatedly reported attacks by suspected armed groups. Residents have continued to call for increased security presence and proactive measures to prevent further violence.
