By Rafiu Ajakaye
At least five people have been confirmed dead in a Tuesday morning attack in Nigeria's central Benue State.
"The police team dispatched to the area has confirmed that five people were killed this morning," police spokesman Daniel Ezeala told Anadolu Agency.
"We have launched immediate probe into the incident," Ezeala said.
Locals said militants attacked the Ukpam village of Guma local government area between 6am and 7am.
State Governor Gabriel Suswam visited the village to assess the damage, Isaac Onoge, a resident of the area, told AA.
"The governor, in fact, saw the remains of the victims," he added.
"Casualties could be higher because the attackers also invaded other areas too after leaving our village," said Onoge.
More than 20 villages within the area have reportedly been deserted over the heavy fighting with more displaced people flooding into Makurdi, the capital city of Benue.
Several yam barns were set ablaze.
Benue State bears the appellation of the 'food basket of the nation', a reference that fits its highest agricultural output among Nigeria's 36 states.
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