The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the killings of 17 people in violent attacks by suspected herders on towns in Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas on Thursday and Friday.
According to a statement published on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, a large group of armed militia stormed the Sankera axis on Thursday evening, causing violence in the Gbagir region of Ukum and Katsina-Ala in Logo.
“On 17/4/2025 at about 2100 hrs, information was received that a large number of suspected militia had invaded the Sankera axis of Benue State with the intention to attack communities around Gbagir, Ukum Local Government Area,” Anene said.
She revealed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Steve H. Yabanet, quickly directed tactical units to reinforce officers already on the scene and work with other security agencies to resist the attackers.
“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,” she explained.
According to Anene, five people were discovered in the Gbagir area and sent to a hospital where they were pronounced 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,” she added.
She further disclosed that security agencies were still actively engaging the assailants as they retreated into the forests near the Taraba axis.
The police spokesperson also issued a warning to the public regarding misinformation.
“The Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, has warned social media users to desist from reporting unconfirmed reports that are capable of inciting the general public and creating unnecessary tension in the state,” Anene said.
She affirmed the police command’s commitment to tackling insecurity and urged residents of the Sankera region to continue cooperating with law enforcement.
“The CP is committed to fighting the attackers and encouraged the people of Sankera to continue to cooperate with the police as the operation is ongoing,” Anene concluded.
