Residents of Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities in Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, were thrown into confusion on Thursday after suspected thugs abducted a mortuary attendant and prevented families from retrieving bodies for a planned mass burial.

The victims were among those killed during a recent bandit attack on the communities located in Yaav and Mbadura council wards of Kwande LGA.

Several families had gathered at the morgue to collect the remains of their loved ones for burial when they discovered that the mortuary attendant, MT Tiga, had reportedly been taken away and the facility sealed.

At least 11 victims of the earlier attack were scheduled for a mass burial ceremony that had attracted residents, clergy, and sympathisers from within and outside the state.

Reacting to the killings, the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, described the attack as “senseless and barbaric” and urged security agencies to track down the perpetrators.

The All Progressives Congress in the state also condemned the disruption of the burial, describing it as disgraceful.

In a statement issued by the party’s publicity secretary, Daniel Ihomun, the APC alleged that sponsored thugs abducted the mortuary attendant to stop the Turan community from conducting the mass burial for those killed in Mbachoon, Yaav District.

The party said the action was inhumane and denied the affected families their right to mourn and bury their loved ones with dignity.

Also condemning the incident, the President General of Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide, Iorbee Ihagh, described the situation as shameful, questioning why anyone would oppose the burial of victims of violent attacks.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Neji Terhile, said organisers of the mass burial failed to consider the volatile security situation in the area.

Terhile disclosed that he was heading to the community alongside homeland security officials and other government agencies to assess the situation.

He urged residents not to politicise the incident and confirmed that some of the victims of the attack had already been buried.