Death toll has risen to 17 in the attack on Numa Kochu village in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The Chief Medical Superintendent of the General Hospital in Akwanga, Dr Gwanje Thomas, confirmed this to reporters on Tuesday.
Some gunmen had invaded the community on Sunday night, killing a pregnant woman and 14 others while 11 others were injured in the process.
The police authorities in the state said some residents of the community were having a birthday party when the gunmen carried out the attack.
They added that the bodies of the victims have been deposited at the General Hospital in Akwanga and those injured were also receiving treatment there.
Giving an update on the incident, Dr Thomas disclosed that two persons among those injured passed away on Monday night.
He also said the number of those still admitted at the time of this report was at five – four at the General Hospital while the father of the celebrant was receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
Channels Television can report that the attack forced several women and children in the community and neighbouring villages to flee their homes.
During a visit to the village, only a few men were seen.
The women, who are taking refuge in Andaha community and Akwanga, told Channels Televisionthat they had no choice as they were still apprehensive.
One of them said, “Rain fell on Sunday and we all planned to harvest our groundnuts when this incident occurred. Now, we are scattered everywhere and can’t go to our farms. We want the security to stay a little longer, their patrol is not enough.”
However, normalcy has been restored while some youths were digging graves in preparation for the funeral of their relatives killed in the incident.
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