Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue, has confirmed that 59 people were killed in a recent attack by suspected herdsmen from Nasarawa State on the border town of Yelewata.
Addressing journalists at the Government House, Alia said the figures were 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.
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 pledged to investigate persons indicated in a report on militia activities in the Sankera axis to restore peace.
Pope Leo XIV condemned the killings, describing them as a “terrible massacre” with “extreme cruelty” against displaced civilians.
Angry youths and social media influencer VeryDarkMan protested at the Wurukum food basket roundabout in Makurdi, demanding action to end the killings.
President Bola Tinubu has also directed security chiefs to implement measures to bring lasting peace and security to Benue State, with intelligence chiefs, police, and military personnel deployed to direct security operations.
