By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
There is tension in Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State following the killing of 11 persons by heavily armed bandits on Wednesday morning.
The attack has led to a massive protest in the area which has been plagued by insecurity despite several joint security operations aimed at eradicating the menace.
According to residents, dozens of heavily armed men launched an attack on Ayati, the headquarters of Borikyo ward, shooting dead the 11 people and leaving many others with various degrees of injury.
The incident forced angry Borikyo youths to besiege the Sankera-Ayati-Sai road and Ukum local government secretariat to express their grief over the incessant killings in the community.
It was learnt that the angry protesters vandalised the council secretariat, shattering windows and destroying other things at sight with stones and sticks.
“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,” a resident said on the condition of anonymity.
“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.”
Internal Security Adviser to the Benue State Governor, Chief Joseph Har, 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 development.