At least seven people, including a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Johnson Akaabo, were reportedly killed in separate attacks by suspected armed herders in Gwer East and Makurdi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State.
According to local sources, the fatal attacks occurred on Tuesday, with the first incident taking place in Mbatsada communities of Mbalom and Mbasombo Council Wards in Gwer East.
Armed men believed to be herdsmen reportedly stormed the area around 4:30 p.m., opening fire on residents. Among those killed was Mr. Akaabo, a known figure within the APC in the state.
Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of Gwer East LGA, Timothy Adi, confirmed the assault, describing it as a targeted and tragic event. “We visited the affected communities with military personnel, and four bodies were recovered from the scene,” he said. The deceased were taken to the mortuary at St. Gregory Hospital, he added.
Mr. Adi also noted that security personnel have since been deployed to the area to prevent further violence.
He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for what he called “swift intervention,” praising the prompt deployment of military forces to stabilize the region.
In a related incident, three more people were killed later the same day in Tse Gever Nasemy, a community in Makurdi LGA, approximately 11 kilometres from the Benue State capital.
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Eyewitnesses said the assailants arrived around 6:00 p.m., shooting indiscriminately before fleeing the scene. The attack reportedly caused a mass exodus of residents, leaving the village deserted.
“The killer herdsmen disappeared into thin air after the unprovoked attack,” a resident said, expressing concern over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the area.
As of press time, attempts to reach the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful.
Benue State has witnessed repeated clashes between farming communities and armed herdsmen in recent years, with devastating consequences for local populations.
The latest incidents are likely to intensify calls for more proactive security measures and sustainable solutions to the farmer-herder crisis.