Once again, the shepherds kill 17 in Benue

The suspicious shepherds killed 17 people and wounded many in the areas of the local government of the state of Benue.

The head of the public relations of the State Police of Benue, SP Sewuese Anne, confirmed the accident through a declaration issued on Friday 18 April 2025.

Anne revealed that five people were killed in Ukum and 12 in the LGA logo, adding that some people were injured and were receiving care.

Anne said: “Thursday 17 April, around 9:00 pm, information was received that a large number of suspicious militia had invaded the axis of Sankera of the state of Benue with the intention of attacking the communities around Gbagir, area of ​​the local government of Ukum.

“Upon receipt of this report, the police commissioner, the Benue State Police Command, cp. Steve Yabanet, ordered the tactical teams to move to the area and join forces with police officers and other security agencies to prevent the attack.

The shepherds kill many in fresh benue attack

“Following this order, a team of officers moved to the area and engaged them. While the attackers were rejected in the early hours of today, they shot sporadically against unaware farmers while they came across them.

“Five people were recovered in the Gbagir area and brought to the hospital, where death have been confirmed.

“Unfortunately, an unsuspected simultaneous attack was conducted in the logo, in which 12 people were killed before the arrival of the police, making a total of 17 people.

“However, the security agencies inside the Sankera axis are still involving the bandits while retreating to the forest around the Taraba axis.”

Anne warned the users of social media who were reporting unconfirmed relationships and encouraging the public in general to desist from these actions.

The police spokesman said that these actions were able to create a useless tension in Benue’s state.

He said that the police command is committed to fighting the attackers just as he urged the people of Sankera to continue to collaborate with the police in the current operation.