Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has disclosed that the armed herders responsible for the recent attack on Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area entered the community through a nearby river and first targeted military and police checkpoints.

Speaking on Monday evening, Governor Alia revealed that the attack, which reportedly claimed over 200 lives, lasted for two hours. “In Yelewata, there is a military and police checkpoint. The river is not too far from this axis, so we understand that they came by the route of the river,” he said.

Alia explained that the attackers, who were reportedly pushed back from Apa, were en route to Nasarawa State, with Yelewata located along their path. “When they got to this town, the first thing they did was to attack the military and police who usually man the road around there,” he stated. The assailants were repelled but returned in large numbers to carry out the deadly assault.

The governor’s remarks shed light on the coordinated nature of the attack, which has heightened concerns about security in the region.