Gunmen who unleashed terror on communities in Benue State, killing scores of residents, first launched an assault on Nigerian military personnel and police officers stationed in the area before descending on civilians, Governor Hyacinth Alia has revealed.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Monday evening, the Benue State governor said the attackers infiltrated the community through a river and engaged security operatives in a fierce confrontation before targeting civilians.
“It lasted for two hours. There is a military checkpoint and there are police as well. Here is how it happens. The river is not too far from this axis. So we understand that they came by route of the river,” Governor Alia explained.
The governor, a Catholic priest, further disclosed that the attackers were heavily armed and came in large numbers.
“They were pushed back and now they are moving towards Lafia, Nasarawa State. This place shares borders with Nasarawa State,” he said.
Governor Alia added: “When they got to this town, the first effort they did was to go attack the military and the police who usually manned the road around there. But they had a big push back and ran back. But they came in numbers, they usually came in huge numbers.”
Multiple attacks have rocked Benue communities in recent weeks, leaving behind a trail of blood, destruction, and displacement, despite the presence of security forces.
Governor Alia’s revelations indicate that the killers may have used the riverine terrain to evade early detection and strike with brutal precision.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that suspected criminal herdsmen have continued their attacks on Benue State communities since last week.
During one of the recent attacks, the gunmen launched assaults in Agatu and Apa Local Government Areas, leaving several people dead.
An attack occurred in Edikwu-G’Icho, a community in Apa LGA, where three youths were ambushed and killed.
It was reported that in Agatu LGA, one Sunday Dutse, a younger brother of a former chairman of the local government, was killed along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road.
The victim, Dutse, had earlier escaped his community during a previous herdsmen attack and had been taking refuge in Ogwule-Kaduna, also in Agatu LGA.
SaharaReporters reports that Benue State, along with other North Central states, has witnessed an escalation of brutal attacks in recent weeks, with several local government areas experiencing violent onslaughts that have claimed numerous lives.
