The Benue state government has confirmed the killing of over 30 people by a local militia in Ayati village, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on Thursday night.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mr. Matthew Aboh, stated this while addressing newsmen on Friday in Makurdi. Aboh said that adequate security has been deployed to the area to restore order.
According to the commissioner, a total of 30 bodies have been recovered after the attack, with more bodies still being found in the surrounding bushes. He attributed the killings to a battle for supremacy between local militias in the area.
“I was informed last night by telephone that bandits were attacking and killing people in Ayati village,” Aboh said. “Today, I confirmed that 30 people have been killed as of now. Bodies are still being recovered from the bushes, so the exact number of casualties is yet to be determined.”
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Aboh explained that the violence stems from a long-standing feud between two local militias whose members hail from different maternal villages—one from Ayati and the other from Tine-Nune, Mbatyem. “These groups are engaged in ongoing reprisal attacks. Whenever one group attacks the other’s maternal village, the other retaliates, leading to repeated cycles of violence,” he added.
However, a resident of Ukum, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation, claimed that over 50 bodies have been recovered.
When contacted, SP Sewuese Anene, the Public Relations Officer for the Benue Police Command, confirmed the attack via a text message. “I’m aware there was an attack, and I’m waiting for a briefing from officers on the ground,” she said.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula on Friday, condemned the new wave of attacks.
The governor, who expressed worry over the attack on unarmed innocent citizens by armed bandits, said that such heinous acts have continued in the state despite the strong security presence.
He, however, makes a firm determination to continue to use lawful procedures to protect Benue people, particularly Ukum, which has been on the front lines of attacks lately.
Alia called on security agencies to improve their surveillance and ensure that vulnerable communities were not left unguarded.
The governor condoled with the families that lost their loved ones in the unfortunate attack and prayed to God to comfort them.
He assured the people that his administration would continue to explore both discreet and open measures to ensure that Sankera retraces her path of peace and lives happily again.
