The death toll from recent attacks on communities in Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State, has climbed to 20, as security personnel and local residents continue to search the affected areas for survivors and missing persons.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, confirmed the updated casualty figures during a telephone interview with Channels Television.
He explained that initial reports indicated five victims had been recovered in Gbagir community, but additional searches by distraught families uncovered two more bodies.
In response to the tragedy, the police and other security agencies swiftly moved into the troubled Sankera axis to repel the attackers.
According to Governor Alia, another twelve victims were discovered in Logo Local Government Area, bringing the total number of lives lost to twenty.
The Governor commended the collaborative efforts of security operatives and local residents and assured the people of Benue that the state remains committed to restoring peace and ensuring the safety of its citizens.
He urged the public to support security agencies by providing credible information that could help curb further violence.
The Benue State Police Command had earlier confirmed the attacks through its spokesperson, Sewuese Anene, noting that a large group of suspected militia invaded Sankera communities in a coordinated assault.
The Police Commissioner, Steve Yabanet, ordered tactical teams to the area, where they engaged the assailants in fierce confrontations, and warned against spreading unverified information on social media
This latest violence follows similar coordinated attacks earlier this year in Otukpo Local Government Area, where communities like Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju lost five residents in February — barely a day after eleven people were killed in nearby Otobi community.
Benue residents are calling for urgent intervention as rural communities continue to face deadly incursions.
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