By Amos Aar
BENUE State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has vowed to take decisive action against armed men suspected to be herdsmen militia who attacked the Anwase community in Kwande LGA, killing over ten people and injuring many others.
“I can assure you, the perpetrators of this act will pay dearly for it. They may think they are unknown, but they cannot continue perpetrating this. It’s only a matter of time,” the governor stated, as quoted by by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, in a statement on Friday.
Reports from Chief Michael Mtseva, a community leader and proprietor of Maav-Ya Community Secondary School in Nyihemba, revealed that 14 people were killed in the attack, with some bodies still unidentified.
In contrast, an open letter to Governor Alia by Imom Zuanen Andrew on Facebook listed 11 victims of the attack to include: Mr. Vanen Iorvihi Dan J.; Mr. Mike Azege; Mr. Ausa Imbior; Mr. Iorwua Abur Hwande; Mr. Anyisa Akpa; Mr. Iornumbe Tse; Mr. Zaki Ashivor and Mr. Terhemba Tyohemba Mhuna (son).
Others include Mrs. Mbailuve Tyohemba (mother); Mr. Jim Ierkwagh and Mr. Ijeyol Ierkwagh.
The number of casualties continues to rise as attacks reportedly persist in parts of Kwande, according to Dr. Joseph Akanyi, quoted by Comrade Anongo Timothy Terwase.
However, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Sewuese Anene, confirmed on Friday that only two casualties have been recovered and investigation was ongoing.
“An attack has been confirmed at Kwande. Two corpses recovered. Investigation is on going”
The attack was perpetrated just a week after Governor Alia launched a new security outfit, Operation Anyam Nyõr, which includes 600 combat motorcycles and 100 vehicles. However, the deployment of personnel to rural communities is yet to commence, as the vehicles remain stationed at the IBB Square in Makurdi, where they were inaugurated.
