President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered secret services, police and military commanders to put an end to the incessant killings in Benue State.
Buhari issued the directive on Saturday following the recent killing of over 46 people in the Umogidi community of Entekpa-Adoka in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.
The president told the security units to enhance surveillance on every front and immediately review the security management in the affected areas.
Buhari also appealed to the aggrieved parties to end the extreme violence going on in the area.
The president’s message was conveyed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, saying “The entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil”.
The statement was titled ‘President Buhari calls for end to extreme violence in Benue’.
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Buhari, in the statement, condemned the use of terrorism as a tool in inter-communal conflicts, urging that the attackers be found and dealt with swiftly under the law.
The president sympathized with the bereaved families and prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those murdered. The entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil,” said the president.
In a sustained attack on Wednesday, armed herdsmen reportedly killed at least 46 people in Umogidi community of Entekpa Adoka district in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack came a day after suspected herders invaded the community and killed three persons on Tuesday.
A day earlier, Monday, assailants also killed three persons in Igbobi community in the neighbouring Apa Local Government Area of the state.
The armed herders returned to the Umogidi community on Wednesday evening, shortly after the burial of the three persons earlier killed on Tuesday.
The Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Security, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (retd.), described the incident as “very tragic and painful.”
He said, ‘I can confirm to you that there was an attack in Umogidi and as of this morning, the causality figure, from those who were seen physically from what I was told, was 46.
“But the figure may be higher because some people are still reported missing.”