Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has revealed that armed herders who carried out the deadly attack on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area entered through a river before targeting military and police checkpoints in the area.
Speaking on Arise Television's Prime Time on Monday evening, Governor Alia provided details of the attack that reportedly claimed over 200 lives a few days ago.
How the Attack Unfolded
"It lasted for two hours. In Yelewata, there is a military and police checkpoint," the Governor explained. "This is how it happened: the river is not too far by this axis, so we understand that they came by the round of the river."
According to Alia, the attackers had been pushed back from Apa and were moving toward Nasarawa State when they launched the assault on Yelewata, which shares a border with Nasarawa State.
"When they got to this town, the first thing they did was to attack the military and police who usually man the road around there," he said. "They were pushed back so they ran back. They came in numbers as usual."
The Governor had previously suggested that foreign terrorists, not just herders, might be behind the killings in Benue communities.
Conflicting Death Toll Reports
There appear to be conflicting reports about the death toll from the attack. While initial reports suggested over 200 people were killed, the Nigerian government has contradicted Governor Alia's claims regarding the number of casualties.
In response to the attack, the Inspector General of Police reportedly arrived in Benue State to assess the situation firsthand.
The Yelewata attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Benue State in recent years, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
Stay connected with BenriNews for updates on this developing story.
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