The death toll from recent herdsmen attacks in Benue State’s Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas has climbed to 20, following the recovery of more bodies by security personnel and residents combing the affected communities.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, disclosed the updated casualty figure during a phone interview with Channels Television on Saturday.
According to him, five corpses were initially recovered from Gbagir and taken to the morgue. Two additional bodies were later found by residents searching for missing loved ones.
The governor added, “A family in Gbagir that insisted on burying their relative immediately had been provided cover letters by security forces to perform brief burial rites.”
In Logo Local Government Area, police responding to a simultaneous attack recovered 12 more bodies, which were also deposited at the morgue. These attacks were part of a coordinated onslaught in the Sankera axis, reportedly carried out by suspected herdsmen.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of residents and urged citizens to support security agencies by providing timely information to help combat insecurity.
Prior to Saturday’s update, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, had reported 17 deaths from the attacks in a statement released on Friday.
The police statement read: “Information was received that a large number of suspected militia had invaded the Sankera axis of Benue state to attack communities around Gbagir, Ukum Local Government Area. Upon receipt of this report, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Police Command, CP. Steve H. Yabanet FCID, psc (+) ordered tactical teams to move to the area and join forces with police officers on the ground and other security agencies to forestall the attack.
“Following this order, a team of officers moved to the area and engaged them. While the attackers were being repelled in the early hours of today, they shot sporadically at unsuspecting farmers as they came across them. Five (5) persons were recovered at the Gbagir area and taken to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead.
“Unfortunately, an unsuspected simultaneous attack was carried out in Logo, where twelve (12) persons were killed before the arrival of the police, making a total of seventeen persons. However, Security agencies within the Sankera axis are still engaging the bandits as they retreat to the forest around the Taraba axis.
“The CP warns social media users who are reporting unconfirmed reports and inciting the general public to desist from such actions that are capable of creating unnecessary tension in the state. He reiterates his commitment to fighting the attackers and encourages the good people of Sankera to continue to cooperate with the police as the operation is ongoing.”
Earlier in February, suspected herdsmen had also attacked three communities—Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju—in Otukpo Local Government Area, leaving five people dead. The attacks occurred just a day after 11 people were killed in Otobi Community, also in Otukpo LGA.
Efforts by security forces to stabilize the region remain ongoing.
