Residents of Yelewata, a farming settlement in Benue State have expressed anger over the claims by Governor Hyacinth Alia that only 59 persons lost their lives in last weekend’s deadly attack in the area.
Alia had stunned Nigerians when he appeared on national television and put the death toll at 59.
This is also as the governor is yet to visit the grieving community. Instead, he sent his deputy.
Locals say nearly 300 lives lost their lives in the attack, with the majority burnt to ashes.
Among the victims is Pharmacist Matthew Iormba, a brilliant young man who had once dreamt of becoming a medical doctor.
He had just returned home the previous night to his family to inform them that he had graduated after his housemanship in Kano, only to be burnt alive during the attack.
One of those who vehemently disputed the governor’s claim is Samson, a youth leader in Daudu.
“We lost over 300 people. Children were burnt to ashes. In some places, entire families were wiped out.
“If anyone tells you it’s 59, they’re lying. A family here lost over 40 members alone.
“That’s where we recorded the majority of casualties. In my family alone, they killed over 33 people.
“So different families, this family with about 20-something, that family with 30, so right now, even the government is underreporting the number grossly.
“I have names of about, at the last count, about 132 or so that were killed.
“That is the ones we know. The ones we don’t know are also equal to that number. This is because a lot of people come from about 10 other villages to sleep in those stores. Others came as permanent IDPs and others as temporary IDPs,” he told Daily Post.
List of some of the murdered victims as provided by Franc Utoo.
1. Fanen Chii
2. Doom Chii
3. Terzungwe Chii
4. Edeember Uke
5. Aondodoo Uke
6. Adohi Dooga
7. Mbanyiar Dooga
8. Ikyoche Dooga
9. Awanboi Dooga
10. Regina Dooga
11. Adoo Dooga
12. Aondofa Dooga
13. Mathew Iormba
14. Apam Iormba
15. Philomena Iormba
16. Akama Iormba
17. Ngodoo Iormba
18. Kumawues Iormba
19. Nensha Iormba
20. Victoria Tsegba
21. Ngodoo Tsegba
22. Mimidoo Tsegba
23. Dorathy Tsegba
24. Msendoo Tsegba
25. Iorgyer Kyule
26. Ute Dooga
27. Shaadye Koornam
28. Sewuese Iorember
29. Dooshima Aondoana
30. Agbogo Aondoana
31. Erdoo Aondoana
32. Orsoja Ikpakyaa
33. Injinia Ikpakyaa
34. Chia Orshio
35. Uyina Orshio
36. Katie Orshio
37. Myuega Orshio
38. Usha Orshio
39. Philomena Orshio
40. Alia Orshio
41. Lydia Ajah
42. Terdoo Ajah
43. Iwuese Ajah
44. Orbuter Anya
45. Terzungwe Akpen
46. Aondohemba Akpen
47. Ushana Akpen
48. Shater Akpen
49. Mercy Akpen
50. Isaac Akpen
51. Doowuese Ugbah
52. Ngodoo Ugba
53. Manta Simon
54. Manta Laadi
55. Manta Iwuese
56. Doose Asoo
57. Aondosoo Asoo
58. Terlumun Fidelis
59. Yakov Shagwa
60. Margaret Shagwa
61. Erdoo Shagwa
62. Dooauur Shagwa
63. Sewuese Shagwa
64. Logo Ukô
65. Eunice Tyokuwa
66. Jude Aza
67. Kwaghhar Ordue
68. Doosuur Ordue
69. Terngu Nongotse
70. Msugh Nongotse
71. Dooshima Nongotse
72. Orlogbo Lamaaondo
73. Laadi Lamaaondo
74. Awan Shiôr
75. Aondohemba Ucha
76. Bonashe Uzer
77. Amaki Dende
78. Angbiandoo Dende
79. Festus Amaki
80. Mbaufe Ubi
81. Matthew Uto
82. Doopinen Uto
83. Kumater Uto
84. Terhile Uto
85. Versuwe Zerkohol
86. Mbakeren Aondovihi
87. Monday Aondovihi
88. Erdoo Aondovihi
89. Joe Aondovihi
90. Mwarga Aondovihi
91. Felicia Gwabo
92. Mary Gwabo
93. Terhemba Gwabo
94. Jirgema Gwabo
95. Mercy Dende
96. Lubem Dende
97. Uwundu Iorhemen
98. Gabriel Fide
99. Aondoana Fide
100. Ukese Fide
101. Averter Fide
102. Mwaraorga Fide
103. Terkimbir Solomon
104. Amina Kongo
105. Terkula Kongo
106. Doose Asoo
107. Aboi Asoo
108. Shater Amaki
109. Lumunga Gbem
110. Doose Ayom
111. Mama Mfanyi
112. Samson Uke
113. Aboi Korna
114. Aondoawase Lamaaondo
115. Ormbagba Utim
116. Mermber Lamaaondo
117. Doose Ordue
118. Torsaar Adam
119. Doose Adam
120. Nguyilan Adam
121. Terver Ucha
122. Agon Ucha
123. Aondohemba Ucha
124. Atuur Asom
125. Uvershigh Asom
126. Nongo Ulam
127. Aondoaver Ulam.
Meanwhile, he said some of the victims cannot be identified as they came from outside the community to seek protection as IDPs in churches and schools.