In another tragic episode of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, over 20 people have reportedly been killed following coordinated attacks on several communities in Benue State. The affected areas, located in Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas, were ambushed late Monday night by unidentified gunmen believed to be part of a larger network of armed militias operating across the region.
Local sources described scenes of horror as the assailants stormed homes, shooting indiscriminately and setting properties ablaze. Many of the victims, including women and children, were said to have been caught off guard while sleeping. Survivors who spoke to reporters recounted how entire families were wiped out in the raids.
Authorities confirmed the attacks but noted that the true death toll may be significantly higher than initial reports, as more bodies are being recovered from remote and hard-to-reach areas. Security personnel have been deployed to the affected communities, but residents remain fearful of further assaults.
The motive behind the violence has yet to be officially identified. However, it aligns with a growing trend of deadly clashes in Benue and neighboring states—often rooted in longstanding disputes over land, water access, and grazing routes between herders and farming communities.
Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attacks, calling them “barbaric and inhuman,” and urged federal authorities to reinforce security in the region. He also appealed for calm and cooperation from locals while investigations continue.
Human rights groups and civil society organizations have renewed calls on the federal government to adopt stronger measures to address insecurity and to bring the perpetrators of these atrocities to justice.
This latest wave of violence adds to the grim statistics that have plagued Benue State, widely considered the epicenter of farmer-herder conflicts in Nigeria.
