No fewer than 33 persons have been reportedly killed in coordinated attacks by suspected herdsmen on Sunday evening in Benue State, targeting communities in Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas (LGAs). The fresh wave of violence has left many residents missing as local authorities began headcounts on Monday morning.
The bloodshed started at approximately 7:00 pm in Tse-Antswam, a settlement in Naka town, the administrative headquarters of Gwer West LGA. According to Patrick Modoom, a local community leader who spoke to Channels Television, 17 bodies were recovered from the scene near the LGEA Primary School Naka, adjacent to the Federal Government Dam project.
> “Many people are still missing as we conduct headcounts. Survivors have been displaced into the primary school where local police and vigilantes are offering protection,” Modoom said.
Shockingly, Modoom noted that the attack unfolded close to a military checkpoint in Naka, yet no response came from security forces when the alarm was raised, leaving residents exposed as the onslaught persisted.
Gwer West, home to 15 political council wards, has been a recurring hotspot for violent incursions. Prior to Sunday’s assault, 14 of the wards had suffered similar attacks, making Naka town the last remaining refuge — a status now shattered by the latest violence.
16 More Killed in Neighboring Apa LGA
Simultaneously, 16 people were killed in Edikwu and Ankpali communities within neighboring Apa LGA. The lawmaker representing Apa State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Abu Umoru, confirmed the death toll, adding that several others remain unaccounted for.
> “We’ve confirmed 16 deaths but headcounts are still ongoing. The situation is dire,” Umoru reported.
Benue Kidnappings Deepen Insecurity
The renewed violence comes barely 48 hours after 14 female traders were abducted along the Owukpa Road in Ogbadibo LGA, while returning from a market in Enugu State. The victims, travelling in a Benue Links bus, remain missing.
As of the time of this report, the Benue State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the spate of attacks.
Benue Faces Rising Insecurity Crisis
The latest killings highlight the escalating security crisis in Benue, a state plagued by recurring herdsmen attacks and armed violence. Humanitarian concerns are mounting as displaced residents seek refuge in overcrowded makeshift shelters, while local vigilante groups struggle to fill the security vacuum.
