The Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and the state Commissioner of Police, Emenari Ifeanyi, have differed on the casualty figure of Sunday armed herders attacks on two Local Government Areas of the state.
Some suspected armed herders in a coordinated attacks invaded Naka and Edikwu-Ankpali in Gwer West and Apa LGAs respectively, unleashed terror leading to loss of 43 people, according to the locals.
However, the state governor, in his Facebook account on Tuesday, said that 23 people, 12 in Apa and 11 in Gwer West LGAs, lost their lives in the attacks.
Alia wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the loss of 23 innocent lives; 12 in Apa and 11 in Gwer West Local Government Areas, due to brutal and unprovoked attacks.
“These killings are unacceptable, and as your governor, I will not sit idle while our communities are turned into killing fields.”
The governor said he had ordered joint security forces to immediately move into the affected areas and beyond.
“Their mission is clear: stop the violence, sweep the communities, and restore peace,” he said.
He added that his administration stands firmly with every grieving family and displaced resident and promised to mobilise every available resource to protect lives and bring those responsible to justice.
Also in a statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the state command, DSP Udeme Edet said that 22 people lost their lives in the Sunday attack on the two LGAs.
While stating that officers deployed to troubled areas in the state have been contending with attackers, the command regretted that 22 people lost their lives in the latest attacks in Gwer West and Apa.
“Unfortunately, these drowning bandits searched for vulnerable persons and attacked killing 10 persons at Apa and 12 persons and five hospitalised,” the statement read in parts.
While commiserating with families of the deceased, the CP assured affected communities of his resolve to fight the attackers till they submit to the rule of law.
