Panic broke out in Uikpam, a host community for thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, following sporadic gunfire that echoed through the area on Friday night.
According to reports, the incident began around 11 pm near the Uikpam market square along the Umenger-Gbajimba Road and lasted for about 20 minutes, causing residents and IDPs to flee in fear.
A local resident, who chose to remain anonymous, said the chaos was fueled by the assumption that armed herdsmen had launched an attack, similar to a recent incident in Yelewata. “People were confused and panicked.
They fled in large numbers to Daudu town and nearby communities. Some even sustained injuries while trying to escape,” the source said. However, the incident was later attributed to unidentified hoodlums. Security operatives who were alerted quickly arrived at the scene and restored calm, ensuring peace throughout the night.
Despite the return to normalcy, residents have called for increased security in the area to prevent any real attacks. “We appeal that security be beefed up to prevent any crisis, especially since Uikpam hosts a large number of IDPs,” the source added.
A former Benue State House of Assembly aspirant, Mr. Jimin Geoffrey, also confirmed the gunfire in a statement on his verified social media account. “I personally went to Uikpam this morning and verified the gunshots.
The town, which houses IDPs, remains vulnerable to militia herders,” he said. Geoffrey urged the state government to redeploy Mobile Security Personnel who were withdrawn from the area weeks ago, stressing the need to boost residents’ confidence and prevent possible future calamities.
When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had not yet received any report on the incident.
https://news360ng.com/tension-in-benue-as-sporadic-gunshots-disrupt-peace-in-idp-host-town/
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