Gunmen have carried out separate attacks on three communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, killing seven people, including a man and his wife.

Reports indicate that while four people were killed in Hirnyam village, one was killed in Governor Samuel Ortom’s hometown, Ortom village, while two others were killed in Semaka village, all of Guma LGA. The incident occurred last Friday, according to locals.

The man who was killed was a Catechist at St. Peter Catholic Church, Hirnyam. The herdsmen reportedly shot the victims and used cutlasses on them.

The police are yet to provide information on the incident. However, the Chairman of Guma LGA, Mr Mike Uba, has confirmed the killings, describing it as sad.

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Uba said seven people have been killed in separate attacks on three communities in Guma LGA in the last one week. He said he could not reach the police on time as the Divisional Police Officer had been transferred and he was yet to get the phone number of the new one posted to his area.

Herdsmen militia have been known to carry out attacks on farming communities in the region, leading to the displacement of thousands of people.