Sixteen people killed by armed invaders in Efeyi community of Ugboju district in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State were on Saturday buried in a mass funeral amid tears and grief.
The victims were killed on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, when the armed attackers invaded the community at about 5am and opened fire on residents in the area.
At the mass burial held on Saturday, some family members, community leaders, traditional rulers, politicians and religious leaders, who gathered to pay their last respects to the deceased, wailed uncontrollably.
Our correspondent reports that the mourners struggled to hold back tears as the victims were laid to rest in graves dug side by side.
A resident of the community, Ogboji Aboje, who attended the funeral, described the ceremony as one of the saddest moments in the history of Efeyi.
‘The funeral was so touching. The atmosphere was full of sorrow. Tears were flowing. It was the saddest day for the people of Efeyi community. May their souls rest in peace,’ he said.
A Catholic priest offered prayers for the deceased before the bodies, placed in white caskets, were lowered into their graves.