According to report received, some farmers in Akaanya, Tse Gbum, Kpete and Ulam communities in the local government have recovered 26 more bodies.

They said the victims were killed by people in military uniform, who were allegedly looking for their missing colleagues. About 15 persons were also reported killed on Wednesday.

The locals who spoke to our correspondent claimed that death toll in the affected communities had risen to 67.

One of the locals, who did not want his name in print, said, “The record we have is that 41 persons were killed on Thursday, but farmers in some affected communities on Friday afternoon discovered 26 bodies, bringing the total to 67.

Meanwhile, a source close to the chairman of Ukum Local Government Area, who pleaded anonymity, said the 26 corpses were only those recovered on Friday morning.

The source noted that the attackers retreated to their base in Kente after the operation.

Speaking to journalists shortly after a security-council meeting, the Acting Governor of Benue State, Mr. Benson Abounu, said he had yet to be briefed on the casualty rate in Ukum, and that he was only aware of the two persons killed in Makurdi metropolis by the suspected herdsmen.