Amid Renewed Killing, Gov Alia Says Terrorists Can’t Take Over Benue Lands

As suspected militia herdsmen yesterday attacked some communities in Mbaterem Ukum local government area of Benue State and killed several residents, Governor Hyacinth Alia has declared that terrorists masquerading as herdsmen cannot take over the people’s lands

While he acknowledged the prompt response of security agencies to the attacks, the governor said, “I took an oath to protect our people, and I will not relent. I must appreciate the fact that the federal government is advancing a lot of support for us to tackle these acts of terrorism.”

The affected communities are close to the Benue-Taraba border.

It was learnt that the attackers on motorcycles invaded Ayaba, Ukpen, Bom, Aboajio and Yina, at about 5 a.m. yesterday, shooting sporadically.

A resident of one of the communities claimed that the attacks lasted for hours and forced residents to flee into the bushes for safety.

Another resident, Emmanuel Oryiman Mbatsavdue, told LEADERSHIP on the telephone that, in his community of Aboajio alone, four residents had been confirmed dead as “the search for missing people continues. The casualties may increase as people are still searching for their loved ones. The attackers, suspected to be armed herdsmen in large numbers, invaded my community in the early hours of Sunday. Four residents were killed and many were wounded.”

Also, the chairman Ukum local government area, Hon. Jonathan Modi, confirmed the attack but said the casualty figures were yet to be ascertained.

“The attack occurred and security operatives are in the bush where the incident happened. As the chairman and chief security officer of my local government, I am on patrol in Jootar town because my people in Jootar and Kyado, too, are gripped by fear. I am waiting for security reports from the operatives in the bush. The security men are still in the bush. For now, the number of casualties has not been ascertained,” he said.

When contacted, the police command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Orchia Aondongu, confirmed the attack. “I can confirm that there was an attack in Ukum local government area. More details will be communicated to you as soon as I have them,” he told our correspondent.

In his reaction to the incident, Governor Alia explained that terrorists masquerading as herdsmen in the early hours of yesterday invaded and attacked the people of Mbaterem in Ayaba, Ikpur, Yina, Aboajio, Ukpen communities of Mbazun ward, “killing some and inflicting injuries on others.”

In a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, the governor consoled those who lost loved ones and the injured, and vowed to continue providing the necessary support to security agencies to effectively protect the state.

Alia warned those who were insisting on hampering the consolidation of the peace process in the state, saying, “Benue lands for Benue people. Anyone who thinks that attacking us will intimidate us to leave the land is making a mistake. Like I always say, you must all remain vigilant and ensure you report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

“This is the only way we can be able to effectively tackle these criminals,” he said.

He charged security agencies to continue mounting guard in strategic areas across the state to tackle headlong the enemies of the state who seem unrelenting.