Gunmen attack Benue community as casualty tolls differ

Gunmen attacked Abeda Shitile community in Benue State as traders prepared to close the market on Tuesday, with residents and police giving different accounts of the deaths and injuries. A resident identified as Andy told reporters that four people were killed and eight injured. He said the attack began at about 5 p.m., when gunfire sent people running, and lasted for more than two hours. Andy said the four bodies had been taken to a local morgue and the injured were receiving treatment. Benue State Police Command spokesperson Peter Aondongu gave a lower toll, saying three people died and two were being treated. He said five people were initially injured, but three died while being taken to hospital. The accounts therefore differ on both the number killed and the number injured; neither report provides a verified final casualty record. The accounts also differ over the identities of those killed. Andy named Msoo Chan, Pastor Terungwa Tyonungo, Suurshater Iornumbe and Dodo Shingir. Youth leader James Gbor separately identified four people as Msoo Chan, Suurshater Iornumbe, Terkimbi Ikyereve and Pastor Terungwa Hungwa. The reports do not establish which list is accurate. An...