On Monday, November 25, there was confusion surrounding the number of casualties in a fresh attack in Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas (LGAs) of Benue State. Reports initially suggested that at least 30 people were killed by suspected armed herdsmen during the attack, which began on Sunday and continued into the early hours of Monday.
According to local reports, 10 bodies were recovered in Katsina-Ala, while 20 others were found in Logo. Justine Shaku, the Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, spoke to journalists in Makurdi, the state capital, describing the devastating impact of the attack. He said that a large number of people had been killed and that valuable properties were destroyed.
Clement Kav, the Chairman of Logo LGA, also addressed the media, stating that the attackers claimed ownership of land in his region. “They attacked the Tombo council ward and killed 17 persons and injured 37,” Kav reported, emphasizing the scale of the violence.
However, the police in Benue State offered a much lower death toll. Catherine Anene, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the attack in Logo but stated that only five bodies had been recovered. “Logo attack confirmed. Five bodies recovered,” she said, contradicting the figures provided by the local government officials.
This disagreement over the death toll has raised concerns, with the police and local leaders offering differing accounts of the violence. The situation in Benue remains tense as authorities continue to investigate the incident and work to bring peace to the affected communities.
