The Benue State Police Command has opened an investigation on the alleged massacre of over 136 villagers by Fulani herdsmen in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State over the past weeks.

Tweeps on Friday shared their grievances with the hashtag #BenueUnderAttack with photos of dozens of dead bodies making the rounds on the bird app.

There were previous reports that about 100 people were killed during the week While a fresh killing of 36 people was reportedly carried out overnight in the area amidst unconfirmed claims of systematic genocide in the middle belt.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with WUZUPNIGERIA on Friday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anene Sewuese Cathrine, debunked the report of the killing of over 100 people in the area.

Although the PPRO admitted that “Katsina-Ala has been experiencing banditry for some time which we’re battling with,” she noted that the command was unable to locate the over 100 bodies reported dead in the past week.

She said, “Up till now as I’m speaking to you, there are no hundred dead bodies killed anywhere.”

Asked if the photos making the round were made up, she said, “You know, they brought up the story of 100 bodies more than a week ago. We couldn’t find these bodies.”

Speaking on the alleged fresh killing of about 36 villagers which took place overnight, she said that the force is yet to make any confirmation on the claims.

“It was yesterday they now brought up the story of 36 again. We are now yet to find out but as per 100 [bodies], we’ve been looking for those corpses since one week ago. There is nobody in that place and there is nobody there.

“The 36 came out yesterday night, I’ll still call the DPO to still check the area where they are alleging that 36 people died.”