Only 59 killed: Governor Hyacinth Alia, Pope Leo XIV react to Yelewata killings as herdsmen attack another Tiv community Sunday night

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has claimed that 59 people were killed in Yelewata, a border community between Benue and Nasarawa states, following an attack by suspected herdsmen as against the over 200 people in the media.

Speaking to journalists at the Government House on Sunday, Alia said the death toll was determined through a headcount conducted by security operatives in collaboration with families of the victims.

Among the dead were military and civil defence personnel who lost their lives defending the community from the attackers, he said.

The Benue State governor disclosed that the suspected herdsmen came into the state from Nasarawa State.

Governor Alia acknowledged the assistance of his Nasarawa State counterpart, Abdullahi Sule, who he said shared intelligence regarding the invasion.

He also confirmed that one woman was killed on the Nasarawa side during the attack.

The governor disclosed the casualty figures while receiving a report from the panel of inquiry on militia activities in the Sankera axis, adding that the government would forward the report to relevant authorities and investigate individuals mentioned to help restore peace in the region.

Reacting to the killings, Pope Leo XIV condemned the incident as a “terrible massacre”, stating that most of the victims were displaced civilians murdered with “extreme cruelty.”

Delivering his remarks before the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the Pope expressed deep concern over the unending violence in Nigeria and offered special prayers for “security, justice, and peace” to return.

“We pray especially for the rural Christian communities of Benue, who have been relentless victims of violence,” the pontiff said.

Meanwhile, suspected herdsmen have reportedly launched a deadly attack late Sunday night on Tse Yange, a Tiv-dominated community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, reports Daily Post.

The attackers reportedly killed the village head and abducted several residents during the raid.

DAILY POST gathered that the gunemn stormed the agrarian community on motorbikes in the night, unleashing terror and destruction.

A local source revealed that the assault lasted into the early hours of Monday, leaving many people injured and several homes deserted.

As of the time of this report, the exact number of those abducted and injured remains unclear.