News
Death toll rises to 56 in Benue attacks
The Governor of Benue State, Mr. Hyacinth Alia, said 56 bodies have been recovered following the attacks on two local government areas in the state by suspected armed herders.
The Tide ssource reported the coordinated attacks in Ugondo community of Logo Local Government Area and in Tyuluv and Gbagir communities in Ukum Local Government Area.
The police said on Friday that 17 people were killed in the coordinated Thursday night attacks. However, the governor said on Saturday that the death toll had risen to 56.
Mr Alia spoke when he visited the affected communities.
Speaking to journalists after the visit, the governor confirmed that so far 56 corpses have been recovered: 27 in Logo and 29 in Ukum.
He said there was a possibility of the figure increasing in Ukum because the search for more bodies was still ongoing.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and the motive is not confirmed yet.
However, Mr Alia suggested that the attacks occurred to prevent farming in the communities.
The fight over grazing rights has led to several attacks by armed migrant herders on farming communities in Benue and other states like Plateau, Kaduna and Taraba.
Mr Alia said he regretted that residents were strategically attacked at the beginning of the farming season to hinder them from farming.
He said urgent action must be taken to address the security situation in the state.
“Early hours of today, we understood that more bodies were being picked up in Logo LGA resulting to 27 corpses. So we lost 27 lives in Logo LGA.
“And then many more were picked up in some axis in Ukum and those for now are 29. Many more are surely expected because as we went there they were asking for some protection to get back to see how they can retrieve some bodies. So the numbers might even go up.
“So far we are talking about 56 lives lost in just one night. This is quite devastating,” he said.
The Benue governor lamented that the attacks occurred despite the efforts of the government.
“The … security team have been working seriously non stop. But for this to still happen, something drastic, something strategic has to come to play.
“How can you explain that two months ago we came to this town and people were quite settled and overnight it is calculated, it is planned, targeted attacks.
“I’m calling on the FG to support us, to come to our aide and promptly too. We simply need the support and help of the FG immediately.”he said.
Mr Alia commended the security agencies for their sacrifices to ensure that Benue has peace, adding that there was need for more reinforcements.
He sympathised with the families that lost their loved ones as a result of the attacks, and promised to take care of their burial and medical bills of those in the hospital.
Also, the lawmaker representing Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo, Solomon Wombo, said even though the military were in the constituency for 12 years, there were still attacks and killings.
Mr Wombo lamented the insecurity in the area and appealed to the federal government to establish a military barrack in the area to protect his constituents from armed herdsmen and bandits.
“What borders me again is that we have soldiers in this axis for 12 years and the attacks have not abated at any point in time,” he said.
The Chairman of Logo Local Government Area, Clement Ungwachikar, and the Mue Ter Ugondo, Peter Iorhuna, thanked the governor for the swift response in coming to identify with them over the attacks.
The governor was accompanied by the heads of security agencies in the state, including the Commissioner of Police, SSS, NSCDC, Operation Whirl Stroke, Home Land Security, Civil Protection Guards among others.
The Tide source reports that the affected communities were deserted with armed police personnel seen patrolling in the LGAs.
Residents who fled the areas are now taking refuge in Zaki-Biam and Ugba IDP camps.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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