Benue killings: Alia declares 24-hour curfew As Bandits  Kill 11 in Sankara Axis 

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth  Alia, on Wednesday, declared a 24 hours curfew in Ukum LGA of the state starting from 3pm today .

Alia gave the order following the killing of 11 people at Borikyo in Ukum LGA of Benue State.

The governor at a press conference held in government house Makurdi, lamented that the government  was surprised with the grave security situation in Ukum LGA of the State which has led to the breakdown of law and order, reading to wanton destruction of Government property and threats to lives. 

Alia who was represented by his deputy said, arising from the situation and the need to protect the lives and property of all Benue citizens especially those who are in the Ukum LGA and Sankera general area the Governor has directed that with effect from 3pm today being 3/7/2024 there will be a curfew in and around Ukum for 24hrs. 

“Today 3pm to tomorrow 3pm. There after the curfew will be from 6pm to 6am daily until further notice.

“This is the announcement from the Benue State Government sit of power”, Alia said.

The killings also sparked protests in Ukum as Borikyo people block the Sankera -Ayati-Sai Road and Ukum Local government secretariat  to express their grief over the incessant killings going on in the community without the intervention of the state Government.

A source from the Ukum council area who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said local bandits are responsible for the killings in Sankara axis. 

According to him, the protesters are demanding action from Alia whom they accused of being too silent for long while the killings continued.

Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on internal security, Chief Joseph Har who confirmed the incident, said the  people of the area were  protesting because of the killings in the area.

He Government  didn’t have the details of the killings yet but claimed that bandits were responsible for killings.

” The people are protesting and threatening to burn down the LG Secretariat but they are aware that the state government has dislodged these bandits.  So what the bandits just did is what we call in security parlance, “the last kick of a dying horse”, Har stated.

Also confirming the tragedy, chairman of Ukum LGC, Victor Iorzaa, said there protest over the killing of 11 people in the area by bandits. 

Iorzaa maintained that just a few days ago, there was massive destruction of their camps in Katsina Ala. 

“So this is their last kick. They have been dislodged and they are trying everything they can to vent their anger on the armless people and possibly cause confusion in the towns.

“So I have spoken to the leader of the youths and I told them to be patient. Government is going to sustain the momentum. 

“We will not be deterred by the killings but we will sustain the heat and pressure on them so they can be degraded completely.

The State command police public relations officer SP Catherine Anene confirmed the situation, adding that police are aware of development and doing everything possible to get the perpetrators.

In a related development, suspected herders have no fewer than six(6) people in Agagbe community in Gwerwest LGA of Benue State.

According  to special adviser to governor Alia on internal security Chief Joseph Har, the armed herders, yesterday been 30/06/24 at about 4pm, attacked and killed  some people including Mr Ameeya Solomon 38yrs of tse kuan in mbabuande council ward, Mr Adagu Terwase 40yrs of  tse Abua in mbapa council ward and master Orkaha Terkende 16yrs old of tse maihwa in mbabuande council Ward near tse nyamti, mbabuade council Ward on the road.

The victims were  coming back from their farms to Agagbe town to sleep as their homes were already burnt down by armed Fulani herders.

According to Orkaha Terfa,  elder brother to orkaha Terkende who was together coming back narrated that they were ambushed by the herders at NKST church Tse Nyamti.

“As they were coming back very tired then, eventually the gun men arose on them, everybody was running to his direction he followed the direction towards Agagbe town while those killed face back to there villages and the armed Fulanis don’t follow him they concentrated on those that where running back to there villagers and he  heard 6 rounds of gunshots.

 “The military went  there with them and their bodies pick.two buried are Mr Adagu Terwase and orkaha Terkende only Ameeya Solomon’s body deposited at Agagbe mutually.