Black Friday: Militia kill 30 in fresh Benue community attack

The Benue State Government has reported that more than 30 individuals were killed by local militias in Ayati village, Ukum Local Government Area, on Thursday night.

This tragic incident was disclosed by Matthew Aboh, the Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, during a press briefing in Makurdi on Friday.

Aboh confirmed that significant security forces have been deployed to the area to restore peace and order.

So far, 30 bodies have been recovered, but the death toll may rise as more bodies are expected to be found in the surrounding areas.

The violence is believed to be a result of ongoing clashes between rival local militias in the region.

“Last night, I was informed of an attack by bandits in Ayati village. As of now, 30 individuals have been confirmed dead, and the search for additional bodies is ongoing. The final count may increase,” Aboh said.

He elaborated that the conflict is rooted in a power struggle between militias from different villages. “One group is from Ayati, while their rivals come from Tine-nune, Mbatyem. This rivalry has led to continuous reprisals, with each side attacking the other’s stronghold,” Aboh explained.

A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, claimed that the death toll could exceed 50.

In response, SP Sewuese Anene, the Police Command’s Public Relations Officer in Benue, confirmed the attack and indicated that further updates would be provided pending additional information from the scene.