Scores of residents were reportedly killed after armed attackers invaded Sai Community in Mbajir Council Ward of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Benue State, in the early hours of Wednesday.
Sources within the community said the assailants stormed the area at about 2 am, launching a deadly assault that claimed several lives and left many others injured.
A resident, who requested anonymity while speaking with journalists by telephone, said the attackers moved through the community shooting indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes to escape the violence.
According to the source, local youths who returned to the community at daybreak recovered the bodies of at least 10 victims, while several injured residents were evacuated to a hospital in Katsina-Ala for medical attention.
“Some armed herders invaded Sai Community around 2 a.m. They moved from house to house, shooting sporadically and forcing people to flee into the bush for safety.
“As we returned to the community at daybreak, youths had recovered 10 bodies of the victims, while several others had been taken to a hospital in Katsina-Ala for treatment,” the resident said.
As of the time this report was filed, the Benue State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Repeated attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful, as calls to his telephone line were not answered.
Reacting to the attack, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings and directed security agencies to reinforce their presence in Sai Community and neighbouring settlements to prevent further violence.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor instructed security agencies to deploy more personnel to the affected area and immediately begin a manhunt for those responsible for the attack.
He also directed security operatives to provide adequate protection for farmers currently cultivating their farmlands to prevent any disruption to agricultural activities.
The statement partly read, “Deploy additional personnel to Sai and surrounding communities to prevent further incursions by terrorists and armed herdsmen.
“Launch a manhunt for the perpetrators of this heinous crime to ensure they are brought to face the wrath of the law.
“Ensure the safety of farmers as they tend to their crops, guaranteeing that no further disruption to agricultural activities occurs.”
The governor described the attack as a senseless and cowardly assault on innocent residents, noting that it came at a critical period when farmers had returned to their ancestral lands for the farming season.
He said, “This attack is an ugly, cowardly and unacceptable act of violence, particularly coming at a crucial time when our hardworking farmers, who have returned to their ancestral lands, are cultivating their farms.
“These enemies of progress have chosen to disrupt the peace and food security of our state by targeting the moment when crops are developing and the hope for a bountiful harvest is high.”
Governor Alia sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished those receiving treatment a speedy recovery.
He assured residents of Katsina-Ala and the wider Benue community that his administration remained committed to safeguarding lives and property despite the latest attack.
“We will not allow the forces of darkness to drive you away from your lands or dampen your spirits. We are building a Benue where peace and justice prevail, and this setback will only strengthen our resolve,” the statement added.
Katsina-Ala Local Government Area has remained one of the major hotspots for recurring violence in Benue State, with communities repeatedly experiencing attacks blamed on armed herders and local criminal groups.
