POLICE CONFIRM 17 KILLED IN HERDERS’ ATTACKS IN BENUE
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The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that 17 people were killed in armed attacks by suspected herders on communities in the Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas between Thursday and Friday.
In a statement released on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, stated that a large group of armed militants attacked the Sankera axis on Thursday evening, carrying out violent assaults on the Gbagir area in 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.
“Unfortunately, an unsuspected simultaneous attack was carried out in Logo where twelve (12) persons were killed before the arrival of the police, making a total of seventeen persons,” she added.
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.
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