The Nigerian Military High Command has said herdsmen were not behind the latest attack that took 21 lives in the early hours of Tuesday at Guma, Logo and Tarka LGAs of Benue.
The remains of three persons were also later recovered in Tyotugh, Tarka LGA, bringing the total number of causalities to 24.
Speaking at the scene of the attacks, the Chief of Defence, Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, said he personally believed herdsmen did not carry out the attacks.
“I was pioneer Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke OPWS and I spent three years in this general area. And I know that what we have here is actually bandits attack but it will not be proper to pin it down to herdsmen because this area is a bit far from the normal grazing route of herdsmen. In fact, most of the herdsmen that we have in Benue usually operate at the boundary areas between Benue and Nasarawa states.
“Tarka is far from the normal grazing route and I believe that herdsmen might not be responsible for this. But whichever group is responsible will be tracked down and neutralized. We will unmask which group did this, go after them That is why I’m here.
He further stated that there was relative peace in Benue despite occasional attacks by bandits, though there was still need for improvement.
He added, “The instruction is clear; track them down and kill them. The President has made it clear that anybody found with weapons should be killed and that instruction has been passed to me and I have passed same to the operations commanders to unmask these people and bring them to swift justice.”