The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that suspected armed Fulani herdsmen attacked Aboajo Village, Mbateren Mbazum Council Ward, Ukum Local Government Area of the state, in the early hours of Sunday.

This was disclosed on Sunday in the official WhatsApp group of the Benue State Police Command by its spokesperson, DSP Orchia Aondogwu.

He said three people were killed in the attack, while four others sustained machete injuries and were taken to a medical facility for treatment.

Aondogwu said the command had deployed additional tactical and patrol teams to the area and was making concerted efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.

He said monitoring and security operations were ongoing.

Five people have died following two separate building collapses, the Kano State Fire Service has confirmed.

The incidents occurred on Saturday at Gaida in Kumbotso Local Government Area and Kurna in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, the emergency response unit received distress calls about the incidents at about 2:34 pm and 2:40 pm, respectively.

“At Gaida, near Salbas Filling Station, an incomplete building under construction collapsed while six workers were at the site.

“Fire service personnel who responded to the incident rescued two workers alive, identified as 17-year-old Muhammad Hassan and 19-year-old Khalid Abubakar.

“Four other workers were rescued unconscious but were later confirmed dead. They were identified as Sunusi Surajo, 18; Bashir Ibrahim, 20; Ibrahim Ibrahim, 25; and Abubakar, 30.,” the statement added.

According to the statement, the six victims were taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital for medical attention and were later handed over to Inspector Adamu Garba of the Kofar Wanbai Police Division.

In the second incident at Kurna, behind the primary school in Fagge Local Government Area, an Islamiyya school known as Khadija Idris Bala collapsed, affecting nine students.

Eight students were rescued alive, including Hassana Isah, Usaina Isah, Zulaihat M. Gambo, Nawara Yahaya, Nusaiba Isah, Hasiya Munir, Khadija Isah and Hadiza Haruna.

The ninth victim, identified as 14-year-old Khadija Muhammad, was rescued unconscious but was later confirmed dead.

The victims were subsequently handed over to the school headmaster, Muhammad Gambo Usman.

The Fire Service said the causes of the two building collapses were still under investigation.

It urged building owners, contractors and construction workers to take safety measures seriously and ensure that buildings comply with approved standards.

Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly killed several people in a fresh attack on communities in Mbaterem, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, in the early hours of Sunday.

The attackers, reportedly riding motorcycles, invaded Ayaba, Ukpen, Bom, Aboajio and Yina communities at about 5 am, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee into the bushes for safety.

A resident, Emmanuel Oryiman Mbatsavdue, said four people had been confirmed dead in Aboajio alone, while residents continued searching for missing family members.

He added that the casualty figure could rise as the search continued.

The Executive Chairman of Ukum LGA, Hon. Jonathan Modi, confirmed that an attack occurred but said the exact number of casualties was yet to be established.

He said security operatives were still in the bush assessing the situation.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Orchia Aondogwu, confirmed that there was an attack in Ukum Local Government Area.

He said more details would be communicated as soon as they became available.