Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State said 56 bodies
have been recovered in Ugondo, Logo and Tyuluv, Gbagir in Ukum LGAs following
the coordinated attacks on the communities by suspected armed herdsmen.
Alia disclosed this when he visited Logo and Ukum LGAs on Saturday for an
on-the spot assessment of the area after attacks on Friday night.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection, the Governor confirmed that so
far 56 corpses have been recovered in Logo and Ukum after the attacks.
The governor said there was possibility of the figure increasing in Ukum
because more search is still ongoing.
He regretted that his people were strategically attacked at the beginning of
the farming season to hinder them from farming.
Alia said urgent action must be taken to address the ugly development.
“Early hours of today, we understood that more bodies were being picked up in
Logo LGA resulting to 27 corpses. So, we lost 27 lives in Logo LGA.
“And then many more were picked up in 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 can 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 FG is supporting very enormous, the security team have been working
seriously non stop. But for this to still happen, something drastic, something
strategic has to come to play.
“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.
“I’m calling on the FG to support us, to come to our aid and promptly too. We
simply need the support and help of the FG immediately”, he said
Alia further commended the security agencies for their sacrifices to ensure
that Benue has peace, adding that there was every need for more reinforcements.
The Governor sympathised with the families that lost their loved ones as a
result of the attacks, and promised to take care of their burial and medical
bills of those in the hospital.
Also, the member representing Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo, Prince Solomon Wombo said
even though the military were in the constituency for 12 years, there were
still attacks and killings.
Wombo lamented the insecurity situation in the area and appealed to the FG to
establish a military barrack in the area to protect his constituents from armed
herdsmen and bandits.
“What bothers me again is that we have soldiers in this axis for 12 years and
the attacks have not abated at any point in time.”
Chairman, Logo Local Government Council, Mr Clement Ungwachikar and Mue Ter
Ugondo, Chief Peter Iorhuna thanked the Governor for the swift response in
coming to identify with them over the attacks.
The governor was accompanied by the heads of security agencies in the state,
including the Commissioner of Police, DSS, NSCDC, Operation Whirl Stroke, Home
Land Security, Civil Protection Guards among others.
The affected communities were deserted with armed Police personnel seen
patrolling in the LGAs.
Those who fled the areas are now taking refuge in Zaki-Biam and Ugba IDP camps.
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