No fewer than 30 people were reportedly killed in a series of coordinated attacks by suspected bandits across multiple communities in Benue State. The affected areas include Azege settlement, Tombo council ward, Adabo, and Tse Gwebe communities in Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas.
According to residents, the attacks occurred between Sunday morning and the early hours of Monday, allegedly carried out by bandits who stormed the areas in large numbers.
Logo Attack
A community leader in the Logo Local Government Area, Joseph Anawah, reported that approximately 300 heavily armed bandits, suspected to have crossed over from Nasarawa State, attacked the Azege village and its environs early Sunday morning.
Anawah, who previously served as a media aide to a former Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam, revealed that the attack was only repelled after the intervention of a military jet.
“There was an attack on Azege settlement and Tombo council ward yesterday morning by over 300 armed Fulani herdsmen. The locals believe these are militia hired from neighboring countries due to their unfamiliar appearance. Security operatives on the ground could not match their numbers or firepower. It wasn’t until a military jet arrived that the attackers retreated,” Anawah said.
He further noted that over 20 bodies had been recovered, with searches for missing persons ongoing.
The Chairman of Logo LGA, Clement Kev, confirmed the attack, stating that 17 bodies had been recovered and 37 people were seriously injured. Kev also alleged that the herdsmen claimed ownership of Tombo land.
Katsina-Ala Attack
In another attack in the early hours of Monday, marauders stormed Adabo village and Tse Gwebe settlement in the Utange Council Ward of Katsina-Ala LGA, killing 10 people.
The Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Justine Shaku, detailed the destruction caused by the attackers, who looted household items and destroyed property.
Shaku stated, “Many heavily armed men stormed Adabo village and Tse Gwebe settlement around 2 a.m. this morning. They killed more than 10 people, destroyed properties, and looted household items before leaving unchallenged.”
Authorities’ Response
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, confirmed the Logo attack, noting that five bodies had been recovered. However, she had not provided information on the Katsina-Ala incident at the time of this report.
Efforts to contact the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, for comments on the state’s response, yielded no results as he promised to provide further contacts but had yet to do so by the time of filing this report.
Security forces have reportedly been mobilized to the affected areas as the state government seeks to restore peace and address the rising violence.
