The Benue State Police Command has reacted to reports that about 81 persons were feared dead recently when some suspected Fulani herdsmen stormed communities in the state.
In a statement issued by the PPRO Benue Command, ASP Moses Joel Yamu, the police claimed that only 22 persons were killed during the attack.
Yamu described the media reports “a gross misrepresentation of the true facts on ground in the State.”
He said for the purposes of clarity, “the Benue State Command witnessed incidents of herdsmen attacks on some communities in the state including Logo and Ukum LGAs, where we recorded 22 deaths betwen May 30 and June 20, 2016.”
The police, in its breakdown of the incidents and causalities, said on May 30, 2016, Tse Aondo and Tse Ankyo cummunities in Ukum LGA were attacked, where seven persons were killed.
“On 21/06/2016, Vaase community of Ukum LGA attacked and four persons killed.
“On 17/06/2016, Mbachom community in the Turan council ward and Tse Gabo village, in the Nenzev council ward, were attacked and one and six persons killed respectively.
“On 20/06/2016, Anyiin community was attacked and four persons killed,” the Benue police claimed.
The police stressed that, “The total number of deaths recorded during the period, was 22 persons and not 81 as reported.
“Meanwhile, in order to quickly stem the tide of such incidents in the affected areas and, indeed, other perceived volatile locations in the state, Mobile Policemen have been fully deployed to effectively checkmate these excesses,” the police added.
Concluding, Yamu said the “Commissioner of Police Benue State, assures members of the general public and the good people of Benue State of her renewed efforts in crime fighting and appeals to all citizens to remain calm and report suspicious persons or objects to the Police.”
