The governor of Benue State, Hycinth Alia, has revealed the death toll in the gunmen attacks on the Ukum and Logo local government areas of Benue State has risen from 17 to 20.
Recall that the Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State, Sewuese Anene, in a statement issued on Friday, confirmed the death of 17 people during the attacks.
She said the command received information that a large number of suspected militia had invaded the Sankera axis of the state.
She added that the police operatives had moved into the area to engage the militia in Gbagir,
The police statement reads, “Information was received that a large number of suspected militia had invaded the Sankera axis of Benue State with the intention to attack communities around Gbagir, Ukum Local Government Area.
“Upon receipt of this report, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Police Command, CP. Steve H. Yabanet FCID, psc [+]ordered tactical teams to move to the area and join forces with police officers on ground and other security agencies to forestall the attack.
“Following this order, a team of officers moved to the area and engaged them. While the attackers were being repelled in the early hours of today, they shot sporadically at unsuspecting farmers as they came across them. Five [5] persons were recovered at the Gbagir area and taken to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead.
“Unfortunately, an unsuspected simultaneous attack was carried out in Logo, where twelve [12] persons were killed before the arrival of the police, making a total of seventeen persons. However, Security agencies within the Sankera axis are still engaging the bandits as they retreat back to the forest around the Taraba axis.
“The CP warns social media users who are reporting unconfirmed reports and inciting the general public to desist from such actions that are capable of creating unnecessary tension in the state. He reiterates his commitment to fight the attackers and encourages the good people of Sankera to continue to cooperate with the police as the operation is ongoing.”
But speaking during an interview with Channels TV, he said security forces and residents had combed the affected communities in search of survivors.
According to him, five corpses were recovered earlier in Gbagir and taken to the mortuary, but later, civilians searching for their loved ones, discovered two more corpses.
He said a family in Gbagir that insisted on burying their relative immediately had been provided cover letters by security forces to perform brief burial rites.
According to the governor, the police, while also responding to the simultaneous attacks in Logo, recovered 12 corpses, which were also deposited at a mortuary, bringing the total casualty figure to 20 in the coordinated attack by the gunmen in Sankera.
Mr Alia has, however, reiterated his administration’s commitment to the safety of lives and prosperity, urging residents to volunteer information to security agencies to deal with insecurity promptly.
DAILY NIGERIAN
