At least 30 people have been killed in Ayati village, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State following an attack by a local militia group on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
Benue State’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Matthew Aboh, while confirming the killing said that adequate security has been deployed to the area to restore order.
Mr Aboh noted that 30 bodies had been recovered after the attack and that more bodies were still being recovered in the bushes.
He blamed the killings on the battle for supremacy between the local militias within the area.
His words, “I was informed yesterday night through the telephone that bandits were attacking and killing people at Ayati village.
“Today I confirmed that the number of persons killed as I talk to you was 30. They are still recovering corpses in the bushes so the number is yet to be ascertained.
“In Ayati village what I heard is that one of the bandits’ maternal village is Ayati and the other one’s maternal village is Tine-nune, Mbatyem,” Aboh said.
He also said that there has been a barrage of reprisal attacks in communities in the state.
“All of them are tough and fighting themselves. So anytime anyone goes to the maternal village of the other and kills people the other will retaliate. So it is reprisal upon reprisal attacks,” Aboh added.
