From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Bandits have reportedly killed 10 persons in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA), of Benue State.
This is coming barely 48 hours after two rival cult groups; Chain and Full Fire, clashed and killed over 27 residents,and injuring others in the same local government between Saturday and Sunday, 4th and 5th of November, 2023.
A source from the community, who didn’t want to be named told our Correspondent on phone that the people were killed Monday evening at Ukoosaa-Atam, a community which is one kilometer after Ayati, in Ukum LGA.
He said the victims were the driver of the tricycle, popularly called Keke, his passengers, some other people who were riding on a bike and some community members.
The source, said,”Unknown gunmen came and attacked a Keke, killing all the passengers and the driver. One motorcycle,Baja, was also attacked and the passengers were killed .The surrounding houses were also attacked.
“The killings spot is Ukoosaa-Atam, a kilometer after Ayati Town Headquarters of Borikyo council ward ,Ukum LGA.This is one among the several attacks on the community.We are calling on Benue State Government and the Federal Government to provide security as there is no single security in the area.”
He further called on the federal and state government to assist residents through the emergency agencies as their farmlands and houses are being destroyed.
Benue State Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, could not confirm the story as she said she was not in town as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, PSP, said government is aware and deeply concerned with the security situation in the state and especially in the Sankara axis.
Har, who recalled that his boss, Rev Fr Alia, had during his electoral campaigns, promised the Benue people that he was coming so that people would rest, adding that the state government is not paying lip service to that promise but is doing all they can to reduce insecurity in the state to the barest minimum.
He said that the government was adopting measures including using the carrot and stick approach to ensure that the boys are persuaded to come out of their hiding and embrace a new lease of life.