The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has expressed deep sadness over the recent coordinated attacks on communities in Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State, describing it as a serious carnage.
Recall that suspected armed herders ridding on motorcycles stormed different communities in Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas in the morning of Friday, April 18, 2025 shooting sporadically resulting to the death of 56 people with more bodies expected to be recovered.
Governor Alia, who visited the communities Saturday expressed shock over the number of people killed, noting that the attacks were calculated, planned, and targeted at selected communities and called on the federal government to come to Benue’s aid.
Speaking during the visit, the Governor said, “I know that the federal government has supported us very enormously and even though our security heads and their teams are working strenuously non-stop, this still happened. Something drastic, has to come to play. I’m calling on the federal government to support us, to come to our aid very promptly”.
While extending his condolences to the families affected, Governor Alia appealed to the youth of the area to be patient and not be tempted to take the law into their hands as the government has already initiated decisive and drastic measures to putting a permanent stop to the killings.
At Ugba in Logo Local Government Area, the Governor apart from speaking extensively with the people, also held a closed door meeting with representatives of the youth and traditional rulers in the respective council wards of the local government.
He warned that any Tiv person who forms a part of the killer herders should step aside, stressing that “we know our enemies and we have to face them squarely”.
Governor Alia appreciated the efforts of the security agencies, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Katsina-Ala, Most Rev’d Isaac Dugu, as well as traditional rulers in trying to end the crisis.
Earlier in their various speeches, the honourable member representing Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Federal Constituency, Hon. Prince Solomon Wombo condemned the heinous attacks and gruesome murder of a large number of his constituents and promised to work together with the state government to curb the menace.
Also, the Chairman of Logo Local Government Area, Hon. Kav Clement, the Mue Ter Chongo, Logo, HRH, Terngu Iorhuna and the Youth Leader, Simon Yangetuma lamented the killing of their people and called on the state and federal governments to make haste to put a stop to it.
According to a statement by Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Content Creation, Isaac Uzaan, the Governor who promised to provide support to those displaced, proceeded to Gbagir and Afia in Ukum local government area to assess the level of destruction done to the area.
He was led by the Chairman of Ukum Local Government, Hon. Jonathan Modi, and the Tor Sankera II, HRH, Chief David Sev-av as well as the Ter Ukum, amongst others.
