The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the deaths of 17 individuals following armed attacks by suspected herders on communities in Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas between Thursday and Friday.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, said a large group of armed militia invaded the Sankera axis on Thursday evening, unleashing violence on the Gbagir area of Ukum and Katsina-Ala in Logo.
“On 17/4/2025 at about 2100hrs, information was received that a large number of suspected militia had invaded Sankera axis of Benue State with intention to attack communities around Gbagir, Ukum Local Government Area,” Anene said.
She disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Steve H. Yabanet, immediately ordered tactical teams to reinforce officers already in the area and collaborate with other security agencies to repel the attackers.
Following this order, a team of officers moved to the area and engaged them. While the attackers were being repelled in the early hours of today, they shot sporadically at unsuspecting farmers as they came across them,” she explained.
According to Anene, five persons were found in the Gbagir area and taken to a hospital where they were confirmed dead.
She further revealed that security agencies were still actively engaging the assailants as they retreated into the forests near the Taraba axis.
The police spokesperson also issued a caution to the public regarding misinformation.
“The Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, has warned social media users to desist from reporting unconfirmed reports that are capable of inciting the general public and creating unnecessary tension in the state,” Anene said.
She affirmed the command’s commitment to tackling insecurity and urged residents of the Sankera region to continue cooperating with law enforcement.
“The CP is committed to fight the attackers and encouraged the people of Sankera to continue to cooperate with the police as the operation is ongoing,” Anene concluded.
