Benue State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 17 individuals in the Logo and Ukum local government areas of the state.

According to a statement by the Benue Command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, an armed group of herdsmen stormed the Sankera axis on Thursday evening, unleashing violence on the Gbagir area of Ukum and Katsina-Ala in Logo.

“On 17/4/2025 at about 2100hrs, information was received that a large number of suspected militia had invaded the Sankera axis of Benue State with the intention to attack communities around Gbagir, Ukum Local Government Area,” the statement read in part.

The police also noted that, following an order by the Commissioner of Police, CP Steve Yabanet, tactical teams were deployed to collaborate with others already on the ground.

“Following this order, a team of officers moved to the area and engaged them. While the attackers were being repelled in the early hours of today, they shot sporadically at unsuspecting farmers as they came across them,” she explained.

“Unfortunately, an unsuspected simultaneous attack was carried out in Logo, where twelve (12) persons were killed before the arrival of the police, making a total of seventeen persons,” the statement read, adding that the 17 includes another five persons from Gbagir who were confirmed dead at the hospital.

“The Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, has warned social media users to desist from reporting unconfirmed information that is capable of inciting the general public and creating unnecessary tension in the state,” Anene said.

“The CP is committed to fighting the attackers and encouraged the people of Sankera to continue to cooperate with the police as the operation is ongoing,” the statement further read.

Benue State has been at the centre of persistent killings, with residents continuously calling for government intervention to end the unrelenting violence, often blamed on armed herdsmen.

SBM Intelligence had noted that 300,000 persons had been displaced due to conflicts in Benue State.

A native, Tulumn, who spoke to newsmen on Friday via a telephone call, said several people were killed on Thursday and many others injured during the invasion by the suspected armed herders.

Tulumn said, “Some communities in Ukum LGA have been taken over by armed herders, with a lot of cows and sheep grazing freely.

“They attacked some villages in Tuluv Council Ward on Thursday, where they killed many people. Many are still missing as of this morning (Friday).”

The State Commissioner for Information, Mathew Abo, who confirmed the attack, said five bodies were recovered and three people were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Zaki Biam.

He said there is an influx of armed herders and their livestock in Ukum and added that there is apprehension in neighbouring Katsina-Ala and Logo LGAs due to the influx.

Abo said, “It’s true that there is an influx of armed herders, and they came with a lot of cows and sheep grazing freely in Ukum. Yesterday, they killed five people and injured three others who are now receiving treatment in the hospital.

“The attack, which started yesterday (Thursday), lasted till Friday and has spread to Logo LGA, but Katsina-Ala LGA is relatively calm for now.”

The Katsina-Ala Local Government Chairman, Justine Shaku, told journalists by phone on Friday that although the council is calm, border communities are being threatened by the attack on Ukum.

A new terror group has emerged in the North Central part of Nigeria, leaving several feared dead.

Findings revealed that the members of group Known as Mahmuda, in recent times have been attacking communities around the Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) unchallenged.

The national park is located in North Central Nigeria, spanning parts of Kwara and Niger, respectively.

According to findings, some affected communities are in Kaiama Local Government Area (Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, Nanu) and Barutein Local Government Area (villages in Yashikira District), both in Kwara State.

It was further gathered that the group has also taken over communities in Babana and Wawa District in Borgu Local Government in Niger State.

The Sunday Tribune learned that the militants attacked a vigilante group on Wednesday in Kemanji.

According to our source, “they called themselves Mahmuda group. Their leader in a voice note is threatening all the communities. They kill and kidnap victims and also demand ransom unchallenged

“The surge of insecurity in Nigeria has been a source of concern to the citizenry because of its destructive factor to livelihood, and unfortunately, new militant groups continue to emerge and occupy the ungoverned spaces in the country.

“With the Kainji Lake National Park left unguarded, the loggers, fishermen, and hunter groups take the opportunity and start enjoying the common good of the citizens for their personal gain

“At the beginning, there was a clash between the loggers and the militants as well as the vigilantes, but the loggers negotiated with the militants, and the loggers gained access to the forest to harvest trees without any hitches and this as well serves as the biggest opportunity for the militant to make money through the logging activities.

“Currently, the community of Kainji National Park (KLNP), which includes Kaiama LGA (Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, Nanu) and Barutein LGA (villages in Yashikira District that share a border with the park), all in Kwara State, part of Babana and Wawa District in Borgu LGA in Niger State, have been under siege for years, and the world does not know what is happening to the Borgawas (Borgu people).

“The militants occupied the park visibly over five years ago when they raided the park and chased the Range Guard out of the park.

“They migrated from Mokwa LGA when they were chased away by the then Governor of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu. He accused them of being members of Boko Haram.

“Upon their eviction from Mokwa Local Government Area, they relocated to a village called Welele in Kaiamab Area. The local government authority, with the collaboration of the security forces, forced them out of Kaiama Local Government Area Following their eviction from Kaiama, they relocated to the Kaduna State forest The same group, well-armed, resurfaced in the national park, and became a monster.

“Thus, who are these new militant groups? Some people claim that the militant group came from the Benin Republic or Niger Republic. This claim is also similar to a report from BBC Radio that there was an influx of militant groups to Kainji Lake National Park. Further study of them will reveal the true identity of this faceless group.

“However, a recent audiotape record from the militant claims to be a moderate Islamist, this assertion confirms that they are a sect of Boko haram that broke away from the Shekau-led extremist group. Regrettably, the locals are gradually being recruited into their ranks as informants. They referred to themselves as the Mahmuda Group or Mallam Group, their leader’s name, and a jihadist fighting to promote the cause of the Sunni group.

“The militant group mainly speaks Hausa. The saddened reality is that the activities of these militants, controlling a vast territory of 3970.29 sq. km of the Nigerian state, have resulted in the community members living at the mercy and dictates of the nonstate actor. Living at the mercy and dictates of the militants manifests in a number of ways.

“First, the herders within the park pay dues (zakah) to the militants to allow them to graze their cattle. Second, the farmers to whom the militant allocates farmland within the forest also pay farming levies to the militants. Third, the militants forced the residents to work on their farms as sadaka. Fourth, members of the community are kidnapped and made to pay ransom. Fifth, illegal mounting of roadblocks along the community, regulating social activities, particularly the sale of alcohol and all forms of smoking, and even settling disputes among the community’s Members

“Sixth, the militants threaten the existence of herbalists that they assume are fortifying the community vigilante members to confront them.

Unconfirmed reports also have it that the Mahmuda Group or Mallam Group is into illegal mining in the park environment.

“In their ploy to deceive the people with religion, they timely gather community members to preach about Islamic ethics as well as persuade community members to be disloyal to the Nigerian state and also instruct that any disputes within the community must be reported to them.

However in a swift reaction to the development, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Friday dismissed the existence of the new group

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, stated that the group remained criminal under whatever guise and should be ready to face the gallant troops for the consequences of their actions

The DDMO who said that there was no cause for concern as the Military Troops were on the red alert to tackle the criminals professionally urged the members of the public to support and collaborate with the Armed forces of Nigeria AFN in the ongoing efforts to end insurgency activities in the country.

TRIBUNE

The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) has categorically rejected reports claiming that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) ‘grilled’ its chairman regarding alleged financial misappropriation, labelling the assertions as false and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the agency’s reputation.

ECTDA expressed its astonishment at the claims, stating that they had not received any correspondence to that effect.

Sir Gideon Udo Onyia, Director and Head of Administration of the agency, clarified that the ICPC had indeed contacted their office, requesting for an officer of the agency and some documents.

Sir Onyia cited parts of a letter from the ICPC dated March 13, 2025, with the reference number ICPC/ENU/INV/038/Vol.1/2025, which he noted was explicit. The letter states: “The Commission wishes to inform you that the above referenced letters are yet to be complied with by your Authority and the Officer invited to come along with documents relevant to our investigation from your office also refused to attend to our legitimate invitation.”

He further explained that the agency responded by instructing the commission to route their correspondence through the appropriate channel.

“Rather than doing that, the ICPC sent another letter on April 7, 2025, with reference number ICPC/ENU/INV/001/Vol2/2025, inviting our Chairman over complaints related to alleged violations of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, which is not what has been reported by those spreading false information.

“As a responsible organisation, we replied on April 9, stating: ‘The said letter which was received after the close of official working hours on April 8, 2025, is by implication received officially “TODAY” April 9, 2025, the same date for appearing before your Commission for interview alongside other specified personnel outside our office. Obviously, it is very difficult to meet your invitation, considering your timeline.’

‘However, this genre of invitation that concerns Government Officials, are to be channelled through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who will in turn initiate the appropriate processes that will lead to the release of the concerned Government official(s) along with relevant official documents as may be required by your Commission.”

When approached for comments, the Chairman of ECTDA, Rt. Hon. Anya stated, “How could I have been grilled for almost 24 hours when I’m not under any form of investigation?”

He elaborated, “What happened was that the commission had written to our office stating they were investigating my office from 2019 to 2023 (prior to my appointment) and that they needed some documents from me as Chairman to facilitate their investigation. I wrote back, indicating that they should direct the letter through the appropriate authority, as we can not release government documents just like that. They responded, asserting their entitlement to collect any document or take action against anyone obstructing their investigation, claiming my failure to provide the documents amounted to obstruction.

“Following this, they sent another letter expressing their displeasure which amounts to obstructing their investigation, and this led to their invitation letter on April 7, to which my office responded accordingly.”

Hon. Anya concluded by stating that in an effort to mitigate the tension arising from the exchanges, he opted to pay a courtesy visit to the management of the ICPC to assure them that they would comply with their requests, provided they followed the appropriate channel. He reiterated that the notion of being ‘grilled’ is unfounded.