Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has called for help from the Federal Government towards ending the killings by suspected armed herdsmen in the state.

The Governor expressed deep sadness over the recent coordinated attacks on communities in Ukum and Logo LGAs.

Alia described the killings in communities in the state as a ‘serious carnage’.

According to reports, suspected armed herders killed over 56 people and wounded several others in different communities in Ukum and Logo on Friday, April 18, 2025.

Alia addressed the affected communities when he visited for on-the-spot assessment, he said;

“I know that the Federal Government has supported us very enormously and even though our security heads and their teams are working strenuously non-stop, this still happened.

“Something drastic, has to come to play. I’m calling on the federal government to support us, to come to our aid very promptly,” he added.

Alia extended his condolences to the families affected by the carnage and appealed to the youth of the area to be patient and not be tempted to take the law into their hands.

He said the government has already initiated decisive and drastic measures towards putting a permanent stop to the killings.

The governor held a closed-door meeting with representatives of the youth and traditional rulers in the respective council wards of the local government.

He warned that any Tiv person found to be part of the killer herders should have a rethink, stressing, “we know our enemies and we have to face them squarely”.

Alia appreciated the efforts of the security agencies, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Katsina-Ala, Most Rev’d Isaac Dugu, as well as traditional rulers in trying to end the crisis.