Benue State is once again reeling from a wave of deadly violence, as suspected armed herdsmen launched coordinated attacks on multiple communities in Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas (LGAs), leaving scores dead and displacing many.
According to official statements from Governor Hyacinth Alia, the violent raids took place on June 2 and have resulted in the confirmed deaths of at least 23 individuals across both affected LGAs.
The governor disclosed that 12 people were killed in Apa LGA, while 11 corpses were recovered in Gwer West following the attacks. Several other victims who sustained critical injuries are currently receiving treatment in local hospitals.
Community sources suggest that the actual toll may be higher. A local leader, Modoom Patrick, reported that numerous residents remain unaccounted for following the attack.
He revealed that scores of survivors, including women and children, have fled their homes and are now taking refuge in a nearby primary school. Police officers have been deployed to the makeshift camp to provide temporary security and maintain order.
In an especially brutal escalation of the violence, 16 more residents were reportedly killed in the Edikwu and Ankpali communities, both located within the broader Apa LGA. These attacks have further intensified fears of rising insecurity and displacement across the region.
Speaking on the government’s immediate response, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Udeme Edet, confirmed that a tactical response team has been mobilised and dispatched to the affected areas. The goal, he stated, is to stabilize the situation, prevent further violence, and track down those responsible for the assaults.
The latest wave of killings adds to the growing list of attacks Benue has suffered in recent years. The state has long been a hotspot in the ongoing conflict between farming communities and nomadic herdsmen, a crisis often fueled by disputes over land use and grazing rights. These attacks have frequently left behind trails of devastation — lives lost, communities razed, and thousands forced into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Governor Alia, after holding a high-level security meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, condemned the killings and pledged that his administration would not relent in ensuring the safety and protection of all Benue citizens. He reiterated his appeal for enhanced federal support and greater security presence in vulnerable areas of the state.
The situation in Benue remains tense, with community leaders, humanitarian organizations, and security agencies on high alert. As investigations continue and displaced families await relief, calls for a long-term resolution to the incessant violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are growing louder.