Governor of Benue state, Hyacinth Alia, has said the spread of deadly attacks on communities in the state is part of a coordinated land-grabbing agenda by armed groups.
Some individuals were reportedly killed on Tuesday night when armed men stormed iOtobi-Akpa and Emichi in Otukpo LGA, and Utonkon in Ado LGA.
Speaking to reporters at the government house in Makurdi, Alia linked the recent violence to efforts by the attackers to displace residents and take over ancestral lands.
“They come and they kill any person irrespective of ethnicity on their way,” Alia said.
“So they (attackers) kill them all, the residents run away, they go back a few weeks and then they come in full-fledged for occupation. This is land grabbing.”
The governor said he attacks have left at least 11 people dead, while security operatives have been deployed to restore calm in the affected areas.
“We’ve lost 11 people. There are some villagers who are still missing. We’re hoping that they will be found,” he said.
“Since last night, we deployed through the security heads, our security apparatuses who went to calm the situation down.”
Alia said he told his deputy, Sam Ode, to visit the affected communities before dawn, while top security officials, including the police commissioner and homeland security personnel, were also sent in for assessments.
“There were a number of incidents we spoke about and they’re still going to respond to us to see how much they can up the protective gears for us because it is deeply concerning,” said Alia.
“When you come in there and then you kill so freely, no one is apprehended, and then you move out and then you come and strike again… I think there’s every need for all of us to stay on alert.
“As the NSA just assured me last night that they’re going to put in place, in our support, everything that requires to be done.”
