Again, suspected herdsmen, communal clash claim over 60 lives in Benue
By Idun Maximus
Not fewer than 46 persons have, again been killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen in renewed attacks carried out on several communities of Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas (LGAs), of Benue state.
The development came as15 persons also lost their lives in a communal clash between Mbakine and Ojumole communities of Gwer East LGA of the state.
AbeyaNews reports that this was barely one week after herdsmen militia shot a priest, Rev Fr Solomon Atongo along Makurdi-Naka road, attacked four communities in Gwer West LGA including the village of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and killed 42 persons including a Mobile Police Officer.
It was gathered that on Sunday evening, June 1, 2025, at about 7pm, herdsmen invaded Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West LGA and two other villages in Apa LGA and unleashed mayhem, killing several persons and injuring others.
By the break of dawn on Monday, locals said 18 persons were killed in Naka, Gwer West LGA while 28 persons were killed in Apa LGA.
Our correspondent gathered that the attack which took place in Ankpali and Olijamu Edikwu, communities of Apa LGA also left several people injured while many others were missing.
Chairman of Traditional Council in Gwer West, the Ter Nagi, HRH, Daniel Abomtse who confirmed the attack on his people said the attackers came in a guerrilla style and attacked Tse Antswam.
“As I am talking to you now, Monday morning, 18 corpses have been recovered and many people sustained varied degree of injuries.
“In fact, the way some people were butchered, I doubt if they will survive; search is still on because many ran into the bush with gun wounds and some also entered the well to escape the herdsmen,” the monarch said.
The monarch said that the community attacked was opposite military check point along Naka/ Makurdi road.
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the attacks.
In a message to newsmen in Makurdi on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer ,PPRO DSP Udeme Edet said: “This is to confirm that there was an attack yesterday at Naka and Apa.”
She said the tactical teams have been deployed and are already on ground and are on top of the situation.
“I will get back to you after getting further and accurate information please,” she pleaded.
In a related development, the President of the Igede Youth Council, Comrade Andyson Iji Egbodo, has called on the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to urgently intervene in the escalating violence between Mbakine and Ojumole communities of Gwer East LGA of the state.
In a press statement issued June 1st, 2025, Comrade Egbodo described as harrowing the situation in which youths from the two communities unleashed maximum violence on each other.
He explained that what began as a minor disagreement between two individuals in the market rapidly degenerated into a catastrophic communal crisis between communities that have lived together in peace for many generations.
He said that within just 48 hours, over 200 houses were razed and property worth millions of naira destroyed just as the violence has claimed 15 lives, including women and children.
Egbodo commended the Gwer East council Chairman, Hon Timothy Nyiakura, and the lawmakers from the area, Hon. Elias Audu of the Benue State House of Assembly and Arc. Asema Achado of the House of Representatives for their efforts to stabilize the situation, said more decisive actions were required to contain the crisis.
While consoling the victims’ families, the Igede Youth leader appealed to Governor Alia to direct the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to provide immediate relief to the displaced persons to cushion their pains.
