Tension has erupted in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State following the killing of 11 persons by terrorists on Wednesday morning.
The attack, which occurred in Ayati, the headquarters of Borikyo ward, has spurred a massive protest by local youths.
Residents reported that dozens of armed men attacked the area, killing 11 people and injuring several others.
The youths, enraged by the continuous insecurity despite numerous joint security operations, besieged the Sankera-Ayati-Sai road and the Ukum local government secretariat to express their grievances.
The protesters vandalized the council secretariat, shattering windows and destroying property with stones and sticks.
According to a resident, the attackers killed seven people on the spot, with additional bodies recovered later, bringing the death toll to 11.
A resident speaking on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that “The gunmen opened gunfire and killed seven people on the spot at night. More bodies were recovered hours later bringing the causalities to 11. Now, the youths are protesting seriously.
“They have barricaded the roads with the dead bodies, asking Governor Hyacinth Alia to act because the killings have continued so long without any clear steps to end the madness.
“They are protesting at Sankera, the headquarters of Ukum LGA. Angry youths are currently demonstrating to register their grievances about the continuous killing of innocent and defenceless people of Borikyo in Ukum LGA on a daily basis without any action from government to arrest the ugly situation.”
Chief Joseph Har, internal Security Adviser to the Benue State Governor, told journalists in Makurdi that the protesters were threatening to burn down the LG secretariat because of the killings in the area.
“They have barricaded the roads with the dead bodies, asking Governor Hyacinth Alia to act because the killings have continued so long without any clear steps to end the madness.
“They are protesting at Sankera, the headquarters of Ukum LGA. Angry youths are currently demonstrating to register their grievances about the continuous killing of innocent and defenceless people of Borikyo in Ukum LGA on a daily basis without any action from government to arrest the ugly situation,” he added.
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