From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The death toll from the August 8, 2024, attack on Ayati Community, in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State has risen to 74.
Daily Sun had reported that 30 persons were killed after the state Commissioner for Information, Mathew Aboh, who hails from Ukum LGA, confirmed the attack,saying that he was earlier called that 30 bodies were recovered at the early hours of August 9,the following day after the attack .
It was gathered that some local bandits allegedly assisted by killer herdsmen attacked the community , killing many people, while several others were injured.
The villagers were reportedly attacked after some bandits allegedly received money from some herders and allowed them to graze their animals in two council wards of Ukum.
It was gathered further that as they were grazing their animal, conflict ensued between the herders and the farmers.
According to a local,the farmers complained to security agencies that their farms were being invaded by herdsmen and the security agencies assisted the farmers to chase away the herders.
The action did not go down well with the herdsmen, who became angry, claiming that they paid money for the land and went back to the bandits, who gave them permission to graze.
The source said that the bandits joined hands with the herdsmen to attack the village , killing many people and injuring others .
Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene,confirmed that the state commissioner of Police,Hassan Yabanet, was on a visit to the scene to assess the damages done by the assailants, adding that 15 persons including two police officers,were killed during the attack.
While the villagers continued the search for their family members,it was also reported that 50 bodies were recovered.
As at press time the search for missing persons was still on going .
A compilation of list of the deceased members made available to newsmen in Makurdi, from the community, has so far revealed that 74 person were killed during the attack.
A community leader, Shima Ayati, decried the high number of innocent lives that were killed by bandits in the state, saying that it was unacceptable.
Ayati, a former Governorship aspirant in the state, called on both the state and federal governments to rise up to their responsibilities of protecting lives and property.