This time, the attackers launched assaults in Agatu and Apa Local Government Areas, leaving several people dead. 

Suspected criminal herdsmen have continued their attacks on Benue State communities.

This time, the attackers launched assaults in Agatu and Apa Local Government Areas, leaving several people dead. 

An attack occurred in Edikwu-G’Icho, a community in Apa LGA, where three youths were ambushed and killed.

It was reported that in Agatu LGA, one Sunday Dutse, a younger brother of a former chairman of the local government, was killed along the Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road.

The victim, Dutse, had earlier escaped his community during a previous herdsmen attack and had been taking refuge in Ogwule-Kaduna, also in Agatu LGA.

SaharaReporters reports that Benue State, along with other North Central states, has witnessed an escalation of brutal attacks in recent weeks, with several local government areas experiencing violent onslaughts that have claimed numerous lives.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today last Friday, Governor Alia had declared, “We are under siege,” adding that “the way these attacks come and the intel we receive, it is a directed calibrated plan and then executed.”

Alia, who was visibly distressed over the carnage going on in his state, described the attacks as "directed, planned, and executed", with intelligence reports showing a high level of accuracy—around 60 to 65 percent.

"We are receiving those intel. Of late, each of the intel we receive, 60 to 65 per cent of it is quite accurate.

“And then when you realise what is going on, it is beyond just conflict, it is beyond just an ethnic fight between herders and farmers in our state, it is directed, it is planned and then it is executed, it is some terrorism.”

According to him, those carrying out the attacks were specialised killers —.terrorists who engage in a form of guerrilla warfare.

“For some reason, none of them is ever caught, they come in in the thick of the night, hit, run and nobody sees a trace. So, it is some terrorism that is eating us up,” he remarked.

While accusing some politicians in Abuja of sponsoring the attacks, the governor revealed that an interim report from a judicial panel he set up had indicted several big names.

The panel's report is expected to be finalised next week, after which Alia vowed to take up the matter seriously.