The death toll in Benue State has surged to 72 following coordinated attacks by suspected herdsmen on Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas. According to Governor Hyacinth Alia, twelve additional corpses have been recovered, and one more survivor has succumbed to injuries sustained during the assault.
Speaking via telephone with Channels Television, Governor Alia confirmed that as residents gradually return to their communities and security forces intensify search operations, more bodies are being discovered. “Regrettably, one of the survivors died in the hospital,” he added.
A 9am News report confirms that this latest update has prompted fresh calls for urgent federal intervention.
Governor Alia, clearly concerned about the rising toll, emphasized the immediate need for enhanced surveillance and a more proactive security presence in Benue. He urged the Federal Government to take decisive steps to curb the ongoing violence that has continued to devastate communities across the state.
The latest violence comes in the wake of another deadly assault last Tuesday on Otobi, located in Otukpo Local Government Area. That attack claimed the lives of eleven people in what is believed to be another coordinated strike by armed herdsmen.
Just a week earlier, the state was rocked by an attack on a Benue Links bus, resulting in three fatalities and the kidnapping of thirteen passengers.
Governor Alia has repeatedly stressed the importance of community cooperation in the state’s security efforts. He appealed to residents to share timely intelligence with authorities, noting that local insights could play a crucial role in averting further tragedies.
As Benue mourns the loss of yet more innocent lives, pressure is mounting on national security agencies to act decisively. The continuous targeting of communities raises questions about long-term security strategy and the protection of vulnerable populations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
The state government, local communities, and national institutions must now work more closely than ever to prevent further bloodshed.
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