Benue gov warns against unlawful gatherings after Yelewata massacre

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has cautioned residents against unlawful gatherings and confrontations in the wake of the weekend massacre of more than 100 people in Yelewata community by suspected armed herdsmen.

In a statement issued Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia condemned the killings, describing the attack as senseless and brutal.

The statement emphasized the administration’s commitment to restoring peace and ensuring the security of all communities in the state.

According to the statement, Deputy Governor, Barrister Sam Ode, who visited the scene on the governor’s directive, delivered a message of condolence and reassurance to the affected community.

“Governor Hyacinth Alia acknowledges and shares in your pains and grief caused by the attacks on your community by criminal elements suspected to be armed herdsmen,” the statement read.

“The State Government is consistently engaging with Federal security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen security interventions and provide lasting solutions to these persistent attacks.

“We assure citizens that: More tactical teams have started arriving to Benue from the Federal Government and additional security deployments are being arranged for vulnerable areas.

“Response Squad Teams are also deployed and will be in Benue from Sunday, strategic community dialogues are ongoing to enhance active intelligence sharing.

“In the spirit of peace and unity, we call on religious, traditional, and political leaders across the state to sensitize and guide the youths under their influence against unlawful gatherings or confrontations that may spiral out of control.

“We appeal to the public to make use of official communication channels to report any suspicious activities and to stay informed through credible sources,” it added.

Governor Alia reiterated that no provocation justifies the taking of innocent lives and urged residents to support ongoing efforts to secure the state.