A Senator representing Benue North East Senatorial District, Gabriel Suswam, on Friday expressed worry that the Federal Government is sleeping over killings of unarmed people in Gbeji community of Ukum Local Government Area of the state.

It was reported that 23 bodies were recovered on Wednesday after gunmen in the early hours of the day launched an attack on Gbeji rural town of Ukum.

But, as of Friday, death toll from the mayhem in the area was said to have reached 36, including two policemen with several others still allegedly missing.

Suswam, an ex-governor of the state, who visited the troubled area to commiserate with his constituents, decried the attitude of the Federal Government towards the killings in the state, adding that the time is ripe for the people to rise up and defend themselves from the killers

The lawmaker said one week ago, he visited Mchia which is the same radius as Gbeji, where 22 persons were murdered and several others injured, describing the incessant killings as highly unacceptable.

He said, “The Federal Government has gone to sleep and do not care about the security of the people. These are peasant farmers whose property has been destroyed and their lives have been decapitated.

“I commend the bravery and gallantry of our security agencies but they are overstretched under the circumstance. I cannot sleep in Abuja while our mothers who farm food that we eat are killed in this way,” he added. (Daily Trust)

• Survivors of attack