It was gathered that two other persons were abducted during the incident, which occurred at the weekend as the victims were returning from a burial ceremony.

Witnesses said the group ran into the assailants, who opened fire, killing three people and abducting two others.

A resident, who spoke to journalists in Makurdi via telephone on Sunday, said the attackers ambushed the mourners, killing three on the spot before taking two victims away.

Confirming the incident, the lawmaker representing Ushongo State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Simon Gabo, condemned the recurring attacks in the area, blaming local militias.

He identified the victims as Bem Msughter from Mbakyombo, Daav-Ikov; Aondo Chia from Mbamegh, Daa-Ikov; and Sunday Terwase of Mbakyor, Daav-Ikov.

Gabo also disclosed that two mourners—Aondongu Amos, a POS operator at Sati-Ikov, and Mrs Arinze, an Igbo patent medicine trader—were abducted during the attack.

“I received a report around 4 am on Sunday that they were attacked on their way back from a burial on Saturday night. The armed men shot three of them, robbed others and kidnapped two persons,” he said.

The lawmaker, who is also the Deputy Majority Chief Whip of the Assembly, alleged that the attackers often cross from neighbouring Katsina-Ala Local Government Area through riverine and forest routes to carry out assaults before retreating.

Gabo added that the matter had been reported to the police, noting that the Divisional Police Officer had deployed security personnel to the community on Sunday morning.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone were not answered as of the time of filing this report. (Daily Trust)