At least 18 bodies have so far been recovered following Christmas Day attack in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue state.
The attack, carried out by sophisticatedly armed herdsmen militia, also left several people missing and many houses burnt and 7 children between the ages of 2 and 7 abducted.
The Turan Consultative Forum, a group of Turan elites, condemned the attack in a press conference on Friday December 27, 2024.
Chairman of the forum Prof. Philip Abachi and Secretary Professor Dennis Ayaga expressed sadness and grief over the unprovoked attacks and murder of innocent people.
According to the forum, the NKST church Azege and Government Secondary school were badly affected by the attack.
The forum called on the security agencies, local government, state government, and federal government to take immediate action to halt the attacks, provide security, and facilitate the safe return of the displaced people and the seven children abducted during the recent attack.
The forum also reiterated its call for the establishment of a military base in the Turan axis of Kwande LGA to forestall further attacks, noting that 4 Council wards out of five in the area have been affected.
Additionally, they called for the provision of relief materials to the victims and the establishment of a security station at Anwase and Abande areas.
The incident has added to the growing concern over insecurity in the Kwande area, particularly in rural areas.
They further urged the Nigerian government to take decisive action to address the security challenges facing the country just as the Cameroonian government has done by constructing road at the border and stationing security in the area.