The death toll from the multiple attacks by armed invaders on communities in the Sankera are of Benue State has risen to 56.
Global Upfront Newspapers (GUN) had on Thursday evening reported that hundreds of armed Fulani militia had arrived and deployed at about 6:30 pm Nigeria time in Chito Precinct, Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, North Central Nigeria, and are ready for imminent attacks on rural communities of Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala LGAs.
The three LGAs in the North East of Benue State shares border with Taraba and Nasarawa States and are commonly referred to as “Sankera” and have recently come under heavy attacks, kidnappings and killings by Fulani terrorists.
The attacks started on Thursday night and lasted till Friday morning, leading to the massacre of many individuals.
Meanwhile, Governor of Benue State, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, on Saturday appealed to the Federal Government to step up and deal with rising insecurity in the State.
Governor Alia, who spoke when he visited the scenes of attacks by suspected herdsmen in Ukum and Logo LGAs to ascertain the impact and level of the attacks, condemned the destruction and killing of “defenceless people,” calling for greater action from security agencies to nip them in the bud.
Alia noted that more bodies were found after the initial figure of 17 given by the Police, stating that 27 bodies were recovered in Logo and 28 in Ukum LGA, with a family said to have already buried one of their dead while Kastina-Ala LGA recorded zero death.
Those who fled the areas are now taking refuge in Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps.
The Governor, while addressing the people at Ugba IDP camp called on the Federal Government to assist his administration with the necessary support to end the senseless killings and displacement of innocent citizens in the State.
He expressed sympathy with the families who lost their loved ones to the attacks and promised to take care of the medical bills of those hospitalised.
In Benue State, there have been reported incidents of killings on a daily basis for the past six days in Otukpo, Ukum, Gwer West and Logo LGAs.