Suspected Herdsmen Killed 59 In Fresh Benue Attack — Gov Alia

Governor Hyacinth Alia confirmed the killing of 59 persons at Yelewata, where suspected herdsmen from Nasarawa State attacked the border town.

Addressing journalists at the Government House, Alia said the figures are based on physical headcounts by security agencies working with families of those killed.

Among those killed were military and civil defence personnel who fought to defend Yelewata against the attacks.

Governor Alia also gave some credit to his Nasarawa State counterpart, Abdullahi Sule, who shared some intelligence on the killings which also left one woman dead on the Nasarawa axis.

The governor gave the details when he received a report from the panel of inquiry on the militia activities in the Sankera axis and pledged to commit to the appropriate authority and investigate the persons indicated in the report to ensure peace returned to Sankera.

READ ALSO: VeryDarkMan, Angry Youths Protest, Demand End To Killings In Benue

Pope Leo XIV has since condemned the recent killings in Benue, describing the incident as a “terrible massacre” in which mostly displaced civilians were murdered with “extreme cruelty”.

Delivering his remarks before the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the pontiff expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in Nigeria and the suffering of affected communities.

The Pope prayed for “security, justice, and peace” to prevail in the country and offered special intercession for the rural Christian communities in Benue, whom he described as “relentless victims of violence.”

The attack occurred in Yelwata, a border town between Benue and Nasarawa states, where suspected herdsmen reportedly stormed the community late Friday night.

Angry youths on Sunday stormed the Wurukum food basket roundabout to protest the killing. The protesters converged on the Wurukum food basket roundabout in Makurdi as early as 8 am to demand action over the alleged killing on Saturday in Yelwata.

They were later joined by a social media influencer, Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.

In a statement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu has directed security chiefs to implement his earlier directive to bring lasting peace and security to Benue State.

He said on the president’s directive, intelligence chiefs, the police and the military have arrived in the state to direct security operations and restore sanity.