The 17 people who were attacked by armed herders in Mbaikyor, Mbalom in Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State were buried together on Tuesday.
Hyacinth Alia, the Benue State Governor, believes that forming vigilante groups could help stop the frequent attacks by armed herders in Benue communities.
The PUNCH had reported the killing of 17 people on March 7, 2024, by bandits suspected to be armed herders.
One of those killed was a retired WO2 Army Officer and a boy.
It was found that two of the 17 farmers were previously buried due to the brutal way they were killed by their attackers.
The governor expressed sadness and heaviness in his heart at the sight of the lined up caskets, stating that it should not have happened.
The governor emphasized the need for vigilante groups that are properly profiled and handed over to the government to address the insecurity in the state.
The governor also promised to build a road through the area to aid the movement of security agencies and suggested establishing a police station in the community.
The governor pledged to personally meet with the families of the deceased after the burial and prayed against a recurrence of such an incident.
Elias Audu, a member of Benue House of Assembly, questioned why security, despite having fighter planes, did not act to stop the attacks.
He suggested that the relevant security agency should be reprimanded for not intervening with fighter helicopters when his people were under siege for over 3 hours.
Audu appreciated Alia's support since the incident, including his distribution of Easter provisions to the victims' families.
The lawmaker conveyed the condolences of the Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, to the bereaved families and expressed delight in Alia's efforts to address insecurity.
Audu prayed that such an incident leading to mass burials would not happen again to the people of his constituency.
President of the Masev Development Association, Prof. Vitalis Tarhule, stressed the government's responsibility to protect lives and property and appealed for their protection.
He mentioned similar attacks in 2014, 2018, and 2024, resulting in about 40 lives lost, and urged for the establishment of a security post in Mbaikyor to address the activities of armed herders.
Simon Kofi, the head of the Association of Mbaikyor Sons living abroad, informed the governor that his people had captured two herders and turned them in to the police because of their evil activities.
He clarified that their offense was warning the herders not to return to the community, which led to the attack on his relatives.
Earlier, a religious service was held for the victims of the attack.
