A wave of grief and fear has swept through the quiet village of Vengav Udam in Gwer West Local Government Area following a deadly attack on Thursday night that claimed the lives of seven residents, including an infant.
The child’s mother was reportedly abducted by the assailants during the raid.
According to eyewitnesses, five of the victims have been taken to the morgue in nearby Naka, while families of the other two opted for immediate burial, in accordance with local customs and an overwhelming sense of urgency born from fear.
The attack has left the community in turmoil. Homes now lie empty as residents flee for safety, fearing that the violence could return at any moment.
“This has become unbearable,” said Victor Ormin, the Chairman of Gwer West Local Government, during a phone interview on Friday. “The situation is spiraling. Armed herders have turned our communities into battlegrounds. Just last week, they hijacked vehicles and kidnapped innocent passengers. Now they’ve returned to kill.”
Ormin confirmed that two survivors from the latest assault are receiving treatment at a hospital in Naka, battling critical injuries.
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Despite multiple attempts to reach the Benue State Police Command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, calls and messages remained unanswered, leaving residents to rely on local leaders and informal networks for updates and safety information.
This latest bloodshed comes on the heels of another disturbing incident on Thursday, when gunmen intercepted two commercial vehicles roughly three kilometers from Naka and abducted 14 passengers.
The escalating violence has cast a dark shadow over daily life in the area, leaving families in mourning and communities on edge.
As night falls on the villages of Gwer West, silence no longer means peace—it’s a harbinger of the unknown.