Gov Alia Confirms 59 Deaths, As Suspected Herdsmen Attack Benue Border Town

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Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State confirmed on Sunday that 59 people were killed in Yelewata, a border community, following an attack by suspected herdsmen from neighboring Nasarawa State.

Speaking at the Government House, Alia stated that the death toll was based on a physical headcount conducted by security agencies in collaboration with victims’ families.

Among the deceased were military and civil defense personnel who resisted the assailants during the attack.

Governor Alia acknowledged the cooperation of Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, who provided intelligence on the incident, which also claimed the life of a woman on the Nasarawa side.

The governor disclosed these details while receiving a report from a panel investigating militia activities in the Sankera region.

He vowed to forward the findings to the appropriate authorities and ensure those implicated are prosecuted to restore peace in the area.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV condemned the killings, labeling the incident a “terrible massacre” where displaced civilians were brutally murdered.

During his Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the pontiff expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s escalating violence and offered prayers for security, justice, and peace, particularly for Benue’s Christian communities, whom he described as “relentless victims of violence.”

In response to the attack, angry youths in Makurdi staged a protest at the Wurukum roundabout, demanding government action.

Social media influencer Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, joined the demonstration.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga stated that President Bola Tinubu has ordered security chiefs to enforce measures ensuring lasting peace in Benue. Security operatives, including intelligence, police, and military personnel, have been deployed to the state to restore order.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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