. Gov Alia orders manhunt
. Troops kill 662 terrorists in Q2 2026
Scores of people were reportedly killed in an early morning attack on Sai Community in Mbajir Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources from the affected community, the assailants invaded the community at about 2 am on Wednesday and killed several residents.
One of the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity in a telephone interview with journalists, said several bodies had been recovered, while many injured victims had been taken to a hospital in Katsina-Ala for treatment.
“Some armed herders invaded Sai Community around 2 a.m. They moved from house to house, shooting sporadically and forcing people to flee into the bush for safety.
“As we returned to the community at daybreak, youths had recovered 10 bodies of the victims, while several others had been taken to a hospital in Katsina-Ala for treatment,” the source said.
The Benue State Police Command had yet to respond to the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attack on Sai Community and urged security agencies to deploy additional personnel to the area.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Alia said the prompt deployment of security personnel would help prevent further attacks.
The statement read in part, “Deploy additional personnel to Sai and surrounding communities to prevent further incursions by terrorists and armed herdsmen.
“Launch a manhunt for the perpetrators of this heinous crime to ensure they are brought to face the wrath of the law.
“Ensure the safety of farmers as they tend to their crops, guaranteeing that no further disruption to agricultural activities occurs.
“The unfortunate incident, which occurred in the early hours of the first day of July, left scores dead, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries. It was allegedly carried out by terrorists masquerading as herdsmen.”
Describing the attack as a “senseless assault on innocent citizens,” the governor added: “This attack is an ugly, cowardly and unacceptable act of violence, particularly coming at a crucial time when our hardworking farmers, who have returned to their ancestral lands, are cultivating their farms.
“These enemies of progress have chosen to disrupt the peace and food security of our state by targeting the moment when crops are developing and the hope for a bountiful harvest is high.”
The governor extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the attack, as well as to victims receiving medical treatment. He urged residents of Katsina-Ala and the state not to be discouraged and assured them of his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
“We will not allow the forces of darkness to drive you away from your lands or dampen your spirits. We are building a Benue where peace and justice prevail, and this setback will only strengthen our resolve,” the statement added.
Similarly, gunmen have abducted a pastor, Rev. Samuel Gbinde, and two members of his congregation from his residence in Benue State.
The incident was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Executive Committee of the Nongo u Kristu u i Ser u sha Tar (NKST) Church.
According to the church, the victims were abducted in the early hours of Tuesday from the pastor’s residence at NKST Church, Andyar, in Ishan Classis, Benue State.
“It is with a heavy heart, yet with unwavering confidence in the sovereignty of Almighty God, that we announce the unfortunate abduction of our cleric, Rev. Dr. Samuel Gbinde, along with two members of his congregation, in the early hours of today, 30 June 2026.
“They were abducted from the pastor’s residence at NKST Church, Andyar, in Ishan Classis, Benue State,” the statement read.
The church called on its clergy, members, congregations and friends to pray for the safe and unconditional release of the abducted persons.
The statement also said, “The leadership of the NKST calls upon all clergy, members, congregations and friends of the Church to unite in earnest prayer during this difficult time for the safe and unconditional release of Rev. Dr. Gbinde and the two church members.
“We also pray that God will grant strength, comfort and hope to their families, the congregation at Andyar and the entire NKST family.”
The church also appealed to security agencies and the Benue State and Federal Governments to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We further call on the relevant security agencies, as well as the Government of Benue State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to act swiftly and decisively to secure the safe rescue of the abducted persons and ensure that those responsible for this criminal act are apprehended and brought to justice,” it said.
It urged both governments to adopt more proactive and sustained measures to tackle kidnapping and other security challenges.
“Furthermore, the Church urges both the Benue State and Federal Governments to adopt more proactive and sustained measures in addressing kidnapping and other forms of insecurity. It is imperative to take the fight to the perpetrators rather than merely responding after these heinous crimes have been committed,” the statement read.
The church expressed confidence that the victims would return safely and prayed for peace and security across the country.
The Benue State Police Command has yet to issue a statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report. Efforts are ongoing to obtain the command’s reaction.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has unveiled a toll-free emergency line, 193, to encourage Nigerians to provide intelligence on security threats.
This is as the military high command announced that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralized 662 terrorists and other criminal elements across the country during the second quarter of 2026.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Micheal Onoja, disclosed this while presenting the military’s operational scorecard for June and the second quarter of 2026 in Abuja on Wednesday.
He urged members of the public to support ongoing military operations by providing credible information through the newly introduced emergency line.
“The general public is encouraged to continue providing timely and accurate information to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free line 193. You are assured that all information received will be treated with the utmost confidentiality,” he said.
According to him, the Armed Forces recorded significant operational successes between April and June 2026, degrading the operational capabilities of terrorist groups, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal elements across the country.
He said, “For the Second Quarter 2026, the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 662 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,084 terrorists and criminal elements, rescued 951 kidnapped civilians, received the surrender of 39 insurgents, recovered 328 arms and 12,590 rounds of ammunition, dismantled 12 illegal refining sites, and recovered over 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products, representing a significant degradation of criminal and terrorist operational capacity nationwide.”
Giving the breakdown for June alone, Kangye said troops neutralised 129 terrorists and criminals, arrested 486 suspects, rescued 542 kidnapped civilians, facilitated the surrender of 11 insurgents, recovered 130 firearms and 5,538 rounds of ammunition, dismantled seven illegal refining sites, and recovered more than 308,515 litres of stolen petroleum products.
He described the achievements as evidence of the Armed Forces’ professionalism and determination.
“The operational record for the month of June as well as the Second Quarter 2026 stands as compelling testimony to the sustained professionalism, operational excellence and unwavering resolve of troops across all operational theatres,” he said.
According to him, notable achievements during the period included the rescue of over 360 civilians from unlawful captivity, including the “landmark multi-axis rescue at the Mandara Mountains, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State on 6 June 2026.”
He added that the military also recorded “the neutralisation of numerous hostile elements, the systematic dismantling of insurgent and criminal logistics networks, the recovery of substantial caches of arms and ammunition, the interception of significant volumes of illicitly refined petroleum products, and the targeted decapitation of IPOB/ESN command structures.”
“Collectively, these represent a period of exceptional operational achievement across all geopolitical zones. All operations were conducted in strict adherence to International Humanitarian Law, constitutional rules of engagement, and the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s fundamental mandate to protect the life, property and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.
Onoja also highlighted several high-profile arrests recorded during the period.
