Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has condemned the attack on residents of Akpete/Asaba community in Ojantele Ward of Apa local government area by armed herdsmen on Friday.

Alia said he was in deep sorrow over the report. Herdsmen had ambushed a group of farmers from Ojantelle, Asaba and Akpete who went to their cashew farm to harvest after the rainfall on Thursday night.

Chief press secretary to the governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, in a statement yesterday said Governor Alia had directed security agencies to intensify operations in the area to track down the perpetrators, rescue the abducted and locate those still missing.

The statement assured that every effort was being put in place to ensure that those responsible for the atrocity were brought to justice.

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He said, "How can you come in and attack a people who were simply pursuing their legitimate means of livelihood? My people are hardworking farmers and do not deserve such a cruel fate.

"I condemn this heinous act in the strongest possible terms. The killing of innocent Benue citizens going about their daily farm work is an assault on our shared humanity and will not be tolerated."

The governor sympathised with the local government, the affected communities and families of the victims.

Meanwhile, the state police command has confirmed the attack, saying six bodies had been recovered.

A statement by the command's spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet yesterday said the farmers were reportedly working on their farms when the assailants launched the attack.

It said joint security teams comprising the police, military and youths from the affected communities were immediately mobilised into the forest to carry out search and rescue operations with the aim of locating victims and apprehending the perpetrators.