Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Sunday confirmed the killing of 59 persons in Yelwata, a border town between Benue and Nasarawa states, following a deadly attack by suspected herdsmen.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Government House in Makurdi, Governor Alia disclosed that the casualty figure was established through physical headcounts conducted by security operatives in collaboration with affected families.
Among the deceased were personnel from the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who reportedly lost their lives while attempting to defend the embattled community from the assailants.
Governor Alia also acknowledged the cooperation of his Nasarawa State counterpart, Governor Abdullahi Sule, noting that intelligence sharing between the two states had revealed that the violence also claimed the life of a woman on the Nasarawa side of the border.
The attack occurred late Friday night, plunging Yelwata into chaos as armed assailants stormed the town, wreaking havoc on residents. The incident has since triggered widespread outrage and protests across the state.
On Sunday, angry youths staged a protest at the Wurukum Food Basket Roundabout in Makurdi. The demonstrators, who assembled as early as 8:00 a.m., demanded urgent government action over the killings in Yelwata.
In response to the violence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered Nigeria’s security chiefs to immediately enforce his earlier directive to restore lasting peace and security across Benue State.
Following the President's directive, the military commenced aerial surveillance operations across Makurdi and surrounding areas, including the Daudu community in Guma Local Government Area, which also reportedly suffered attacks over the weekend.
Authorities have vowed to intensify security operations in the state to prevent further bloodshed and apprehend those responsible for the heinous acts.