The governor of Benue State, Mr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has blamed his own people for the massacre meted on them by murderous Fulani herdsmen earlier in the week.
Governor Alia made the remarks during a requiem mass held in the state.
What did Benue Governor, Alia, say?
Speaking on the plight of Benue residents murdered by the terrorist Fulani militias, Alia said:
“Our children who are fighting for power, will now move all the way out of the state to invite the armed herders to come back into the state to help them fight for supremacy.
“And the end result is what we have at hand, numerous deaths of the citizenry.
“On my way to this requiem mass, I received some news that some young people in Gwer East numbering 15 were killed last night by invaders.”
The Benue governor added:
“We now tried to find out properly what caused it. The other youths now rose to move to find out what the problems are.
“Some members of the youths rustled some cows, slaughtered them and they have them in the wheelbarrow and are selling around.
“When these acts are done, they come with a cost of loss of life,” he concluded.
Watch the video clip of the remarks by Benue governor below:
Benue massacre: Governor of Benue State, Alia, blames Benue people for recent killings in the state; accuses Gwer youths of rustling Fulani cows@elombah @DiasporaDM pic.twitter.com/Am7QRUlauu
— Tim Elombah (@TimElombah) March 10, 2024
What did Fulani herdsmen do on March 7, 2024?
It could be recalled that a marauding band of Fulani herdsmen, on March 7, 2024, attacked Wandor Mbaikyor area in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, and burnt down at least eleven settlements.
Some of the affected settlements are:
- Tse- Agernor
- Tse- Najime
- Tse- Wandor
- Wandor market square
- Tse-Ate
- Tse-Anyol
- Tse- Abagi
- Tse-Ifian
- Tse- Ukombor
- Tse- Girgi Akwaya
- Tse- Tion Ukpa
See photos of some burnt houses below:
How many people died during the attack?
According to reports made available to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) by Benue indigenes that spoke to DDM correspondent, at least seventeen people lost their lives during the attack.
This is contrary to the fifteen claimed by the Benue governor in his speech at the requiem mass.
Those who lost their lives in the recent attack in Gwer East Local Government Area three days ago include:
- Peter Tion,
- Nyityo Kyoon,
- Iorfa Ukombor,
- Doopinen Awua,
- Tyoshaa Mkaanem
- Asan Ate
- Asough Ate
- Terzungwe Asoo Ate
- MWO Mbatsavbun Gbatar (rtd)
- John Ndahagh Tyohemba
- Tertsea Ukombor
- Akuma Kpenge
- Abume Kpenge
- Igba Byuan
- Master Ter Byuan
- Terzungwe Aulugh
- A little boy whose name is not yet known.
Meanwhile, further reports show that security operatives were not anywhere in sight while the massacre lasted.
A Benue local told DDM: “It took the security operatives assigned to this location ten hours to reach the scene after the attackers had gone.
“This is a distance of less than five kilometers from their station.
“Over 38 houses were burnt down.”
See more photos of burnt houses below:
