#BenueUnderAttack: Police deny massacre of 36 persons

The police in Benue State has denied claims in some quarters that about 36 persons were massacre in the state recently.

On Friday morning reports of the alleged massacre went rife on social media with Nigerians trending #BenueUnderAttack to express their displeasure.

A national daily which published the story claimed the incident occurred Thursday night by suspected violent herdsmen.

“In their usual manner, the attackers operated for about 15 minutes after which they pulled out and 36 persons were found dead, most of them were butchered like animals which is their usual style of killing their victims,” the newspaper quoted a local source as saying.

But in a statement titled ‘Alleged massacre in Kastina-Ala: Police action’, by its spokesperson, Anene Catherine, the police said no trace of such occurred in the state after the force deployed its personnel to the affected community.

“Upon arrival at the Council ward, the detectives observed that they were no corpses or graves to signify any form of burial and no official reports have been made to the police in the area,” the Friday evening statement read in part.

The force spokesperson said more personnel have been deployed to the area for routine patrols and surveillance.