Recently, Senator Emmanuel Udende reported that more than 50 residents in the Logo and Katsina-Ala area were killed by individuals disguised as herders.
In response to the tragic incident, the Senate convened on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, to discuss the escalating insecurity in Benue State and Nigeria as a whole. Senator Udende, representing Benue North-East, introduced a motion titled “Motion On the Continuing Killings by Suspected Terrorists Parading as Herdsmen and Increasing Insecurity in Kwande, Ukum, Logo And Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas in the Benue North-East Senatorial District Of Benue State.”
According to Udende, the recent killings in the Logo and Katsina-Ala area were carried out by individuals posing as herders.
The motion followed a militia clash in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, which resulted in the deaths of at least 30 individuals. The clash involved rival militias led by notorious gang leaders known as ‘Full Fire’ and ‘Chain.’
Allegedly, one of the gang leaders hired external bandits to attack the Gbagir community in the Ukum LGA to eliminate another militia leader. This confrontation led to casualties on both sides, with 12 innocent farmers caught in the crossfire and approximately 30 others sustaining injuries.
According to sources, the conflict started when a Tiv militia leader kidnapped a Fulani militia leader named Alhaji Gana, along with his family members. After a ransom demand, the hostages were killed, sparking outrage among the Fulani militia gang members in Taraba State. This event prompted another militia leader in Ukum to join forces with the Fulani militia gang from Taraba to retaliate against the rival gang in Ukum.
As a result, over 40 individuals, primarily bandits, were killed in the clashes. Tragically, seven members of the Adzandeh family were caught in the crossfire.
The Senate’s decision to engage President Bola Tinubu underscores the urgency of addressing insecurity not only in Benue State but also across Nigeria.
