Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Sunday confirmed that 59 people were killed in a fresh attack on Yelwata, a border community between Benue and Nasarawa states.
Governor Alia, while addressing journalists at the Government House in Makurdi, said the victims were identified through physical headcounts conducted by security personnel in collaboration with the affected families.
He disclosed that among the dead were military and civil defence officers who lost their lives trying to defend the community against the attackers. The attack reportedly took place late Friday night, with suspected herdsmen storming Yelwata from neighbouring Nasarawa State.
Alia also appreciated the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, for sharing intelligence about the attack. He added that one woman was also confirmed killed on the Nasarawa side of the border.
The governor was speaking shortly after receiving a report from a panel set up to investigate militia activities in the Sankera axis of the state. He pledged to act on the findings and ensure that those indicted are investigated properly to restore peace in the area.
Meanwhile, the killings have sparked public outrage. On Sunday morning, angry youths staged a protest at the Wurukum food basket roundabout in Makurdi, calling on the government to act fast. The peaceful protest was later joined by a social media activist, Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
The attack also drew international concern. In his message before the Angelus prayer at the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis expressed deep sorrow over the violence in Nigeria, particularly in Benue. He offered prayers for justice, peace, and protection for rural Christian communities, whom he described as “relentless victims of violence.”
Reacting to the incident, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu has directed security chiefs to fully implement earlier orders aimed at restoring peace in Benue. He confirmed that intelligence and military personnel have been deployed to the state to coordinate security efforts and bring the situation under control.
Benue, one of Nigeria’s food-producing states, has in recent years suffered repeated attacks linked to farmer-herder clashes. The latest violence adds to growing concerns about insecurity and its impact on rural communities.
