The group noted that after the June 3 invasion that claimed 28 lives, the Shitile people in the Benue North East District down to parts of Taraba State had come under severe attacks in the last two weeks for no justifiable reasons.

The group listed the names of at least 40 persons killed in the separate attacks carried out simultaneously particularly on June 4 in several communities of Kastina-Ala LGA of the state and appealed to the authorities to stem the bloodbath in the affected communities.

According to the group “after the June 3 attack on Imande Mbakange village market, a total of 28 corpses were picked at different points.” And on the days after “in Michihe Council Ward, six others were slaughtered while another six were killed at Achamegh village, Mbagene Kpav.”

“These wanton killings are now being orchestrated with reckless abandon and mostly at night. Most disturbing also is the fact that the identity of the perpetrators is hardly known nor the reason for their actions disclosed.

“Though due to the fear of general insecurity, it is difficult to move from village to village to gather exact statistics, hordes of lives have been horrendously eliminated in several villages across the land such that the whole land is thrown into wailing and mourning.