59 Killed In Latest Herdsmen Attack — Gov Alia

Governor Hyacinth Alia on Sunday confirmed that 59 people had been killed in Yelewata following an attack by suspected herdsmen from Nasarawa State. While addressing journalists at the Government House, he explained that the casualty figures were based on physical headcounts conducted by security agencies in collaboration with the families of the victims.

He noted that among the dead were members of the military and civil defence corps who had tried to defend Yelewata during the assault.

Governor Alia also acknowledged the role of his Nasarawa State counterpart, Abdullahi Sule, who had shared intelligence concerning the killings, which reportedly included the death of one woman on the Nasarawa side of the border.

The governor disclosed these details upon receiving a report from the panel of inquiry on militia activities in the Sankera axis. He further pledged to forward the report to the appropriate authorities and to ensure that those named in it would be investigated in a bid to restore peace to the area.

Pope Leo XIV has since condemned the recent killings in Benue, describing the incident as a “terrible massacre” in which mostly displaced civilians were murdered with “extreme cruelty”.

Delivering his remarks before the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the pontiff expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in Nigeria and the suffering of affected communities.

The Pope prayed for “security, justice, and peace” to prevail in the country and offered special intercession for the rural Christian communities in Benue, whom he described as “relentless victims of violence.”

The attack was said to have taken place in Yelwata, a border town between Benue and Nasarawa states, where suspected herdsmen reportedly stormed the community late on Friday night.

It was reported that on Sunday, angry youths had gathered at the Wurukum food basket roundabout in Makurdi to protest the killings. Witnesses indicated that the protesters had converged as early as 8 a.m., demanding government intervention over the alleged killings in Yelwata the previous day.

Reports also stated that the demonstrators were later joined by social media influencer Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.

According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu had instructed security chiefs to enforce an earlier directive aimed at restoring peace and security in Benue State. Onanuga further disclosed that, acting on the president’s orders, intelligence chiefs, police authorities, and military personnel had arrived in the state to oversee security operations and restore normalcy.

Africa Today News, New York