Governor Alia Decries Killings in Kwande Following Ex-Council Chair's Murder

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has condemned the deaths of no fewer than twelve people in Kwande Local Government Area, calling the attack 'barbaric, senseless, and unacceptable.'

His statement follows the fatal shooting of Udeh Ijachi, a former caretaker chairperson of the Otukpo Local Government Area, in a different incident that has exacerbated public safety concerns in the region.

In a report released on Friday by his Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev, Governor Alia noted that the violence occurred in the Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities located within Yaav and Mbadura council wards of Kwande.

'It is utterly barbaric, senseless, and unacceptable,' the governor said as he extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

The recent attack has left twelve victims dead and many others wounded, prompting the governor to order security agencies to heighten efforts in capturing the culprits and curbing further violence. 'Every life is valuable, and just one life lost is a tragedy,' he stressed, reassuring the community that his administration will seek justice for the victims.

Governor Alia acknowledged the deployment of over 400 security agents to Jato Aka and different areas of Kwande recently; however, he emphasized that these disturbing and recurrent incidents imply that additional measures must be taken to ensure safety in the area. The inhabitants are urged to maintain calm and duly cooperate with security operatives working towards restoring order.

'While the challenges of insecurity are daunting, they are not insurmountable. We will not relent until peace is restored in Kwande and throughout Benue State,' he affirmed.

The governor's remarks were made shortly after the assassination of Ijachi, also referred to as 'Honourable Ukpem,' who was well-regarded in local politics and the community. Eyewitnesses reported that armed assailants ambushed him outside Okabido Hotel in Otukpo, firing at him before making their escape.

Witnesses described the chaos as locals and people passing by fled the scene in terror. An anonymous resident recounted, 'They just opened fire on him and rushed off immediately.'

As of the writing of this report, security authorities had not released a formal statement regarding the assassination, but investigations were anticipated to determine the factors surrounding the incident.

The governor’s statement was a response to renewed aggressions in several parts of the Kwande Local Government Area.

Residents of Mbaav in the Turan district complained of armed assaults earlier in the week, resulting in fatalities and a number of people missing. Locals revealed that more than five deceased individuals were retrieved after the violence, and search operations were ongoing for those unaccounted for.

Recent killings are part of a troubling sequence of attacks affecting communities in both Kwande and other segments of Benue State. For instance, on June 13, 2025, armed invaders launched a deadly strike on the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area, claiming numerous lives and displacing many more, as reported previously by premium times.

Following that incident, several suspects were apprehended, with nine of them being prosecuted on February 2, 2026, in Federal High Court. Although security forces have persistently engaged in operations and deployed additional personnel to safeguard vulnerable communities, residents continue to express concerns about sporadic attacks that threaten agricultural settlements and rural areas. Governor Alia reaffirmed his governance's commitment to working alongside security forces to tackle the escalating violence and protect public safety.