Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has officially confirmed that 59 people were killed in a devastating attack by suspected herdsmen on Yelewata, a border community between Benue and Nasarawa states.
Speaking to journalists at the Government House on Sunday, the governor disclosed the casualty figures, explaining that the death toll was established through a comprehensive headcount conducted by security operatives working alongside the families of victims.
Among those killed were military personnel and civil defence officers who died while attempting to defend the community against the attackers. The casualties underscore the intensity of the assault on the border settlement.
Governor Alia revealed that the suspected herdsmen responsible for the attack had crossed into Benue State from neighboring Nasarawa State. He acknowledged receiving crucial intelligence about the impending invasion from his Nasarawa State counterpart, Governor Abdullahi Sule, highlighting inter-state cooperation in addressing security challenges.
The attack also claimed one life on the Nasarawa side of the border, according to the governor’s account of events.
The casualty confirmation came as Governor Alia received a report from a panel of inquiry investigating militia activities in the Sankera axis. The governor stated that his administration would “forward the report to relevant authorities and investigate individuals mentioned to help restore peace in the region.”
The Yelewata attack represents another tragic incident in the ongoing conflict between farming communities and herders that has plagued Nigeria’s Middle Belt region for years, often resulting in significant loss of life and displacement of local populations.
The involvement of security personnel among the casualties demonstrates the severity of the attack and the determined resistance mounted by defenders of the community against the heavily armed assailants.
