Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has reported that 56 bodies have been recovered in Ugondo, Logo, and Tyuluv, Gbagir, in Ukum Local Government Areas (LGAs) after a series of coordinated attacks by suspected armed herdsmen.
Mr Alia made this announcement during his visit to Logo and Ukum LGAs on Saturday, where he conducted an on-the-spot assessment following the attacks that occurred on Friday night.
In a statement to journalists following his inspection, the governor confirmed that, to date, 56 corpses have been recovered in the affected areas. He noted the possibility that this number may rise in Ukum as search efforts continue.
Mr Alia stressed the need for immediate action to address this dire situation. “In the early hours of today, we understood that more bodies were being picked up in Logo LGA, resulting in 27 corpses. So, we lost 27 lives in Logo LGA. And then many more were picked up on some axis in Ukum, and those for now are 29. Many more are surely expected because as we went there, they were asking for some protection to get back to see how they could retrieve some bodies. So, the numbers might even go up. So far, we are talking about 56 lives lost in just one night. This is quite devastating,” the governor remarked.
He acknowledged the support from the federal government, stating that security agencies have been working “non-stop.” He questioned, “How can you explain that two months ago we came to this town and people were quite settled and overnight it is calculated, it is planned targeted attacks?”
Governor Alia further commended the sacrifices made by security agencies to ensure peace in Benue, while emphasising the need for additional reinforcements. He expressed his condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the attacks and pledged to cover the burial and medical expenses for those receiving treatment in hospital.
Additionally, Solomon Wombo, the member representing Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo, highlighted the ongoing insecurity in the region, stating that despite the military’s presence in the constituency for 12 years, attacks and killings persist. Mr Wombo lamented the security situation and urged the federal government to establish a military barrack in the area to protect constituents from armed herdsmen and bandits.
The affected communities have been largely deserted, with armed police personnel observed patrolling the LGAs. Those who fled the violence are currently seeking refuge in Zaki-Biam and Ugba internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
