The death toll from the recent series of brutal attacks on communities in Benue State has now reached 72, following the recovery of 13 additional bodies.
Earlier on Sunday, during his Easter address in Makurdi, Governor Hyacinth Alia confirmed the recovery of 59 bodies.
However, further searches around the surrounding bushes of the attacked communities revealed more fatalities, pushing the number higher.
Principal Special Assistant to the Benue Governor on Media and Content Creation, Isaac Uzaan, provided the update, stating that the newly discovered bodies were located in both local government areas hit by the attacks.
According to Uzaan, “12 bodies were recovered from Ukum and the remaining one in Logo, making the number of fresh recovery 13, while the total fatalities now stands at 72.”
The attacks, which occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning, devastated several rural communities in the Sankera axis — an area made up of the Ukum, Logo, and Kastina-Ala LGAs. The violence has left dozens of families mourning the loss of their loved ones.
The Benue State Police Command, in an earlier statement on Friday evening, confirmed the recovery of 17 bodies — 12 from Logo and five from Ukum — in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.
