No fewer than 17 people have been killed by suspected armed herders who invaded some communities in two local government areas of Benue State on Thursday.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the spokesperson for the Benue State Command, Catherine Anene, a Chief Superintendent of Police, a large number of suspected armed herders invaded the Sankera axis on Thursday and unleashed terror.
According to the statement, five people were killed in Ukum and 12 in Katsina-Ala, both within the Sankera axis of the state.
The statement read in part: “On 17/4/2025 at about 2100hrs, 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.
“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 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.”
Anene stated that security agencies within the Sankera axis are still engaging the bandits as they retreat into the forest around the Taraba axis.
The PPRO said that the Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, has warned social media users to desist from reporting unconfirmed stories that could incite the general public and create unnecessary tension in the state.
Anene said that the CP remains committed to fighting the attackers and encouraged the people of Sankera to continue cooperating with the police as the operation is ongoing.
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