By Seyi Odewale, with additional report
A renewed wave of deadly violence swept through Benue State on Sunday evening, as suspected herders launched coordinated attacks on Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas (LGAs), leaving at least 33 persons feared dead and dozens missing.
The most devastating of the attacks occurred around 7 p.m. in Tse-Antswam, Naka town—the administrative headquarters of Gwer West LGA—where 17 residents were reportedly killed.
The attackers struck close to a local primary school and the Federal Government Dam project, catching residents off guard.
A community leader, Patrick Modoom, confirmed the casualty figure via telephone to Channels Television, lamenting that many more residents remained unaccounted for as of Monday morning.
“Seventeen corpses have so far been recovered at Tse-Antswam,” Modoom said. “The attackers came very close to a military checkpoint in Naka town, but unfortunately, there was no military response when we raised the alarm. People had to flee, and some are now sheltering in the school premises under police and vigilante protection.”
The violence also spread to Edikwu and Ankpali communities in neighbouring Apa LGA, where 16 additional deaths were confirmed.
Abu Umoru, the member representing Apa State Constituency at the Benue State House of Assembly, said more residents were still missing, and search efforts were ongoing.
The attacks have intensified fears among locals and further highlighted the worsening state of insecurity in Benue. Gwer West, one of the most affected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state, has now seen 14 of its 15 council wards come under herder attacks in recent months, making Naka town the last perceived haven—until Sunday night’s invasion shattered that sense of safety.
This latest bloodshed comes on the heels of another disturbing incident on Saturday, where 14 female traders travelling in a Benue Links vehicle were kidnapped along the Owukpa Road while returning from a market trip in Enugu State. Their whereabouts remain unknown, compounding anxiety across the region.
Despite the rising number of incidents, the Benue State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the attacks.
Benue State has remained a flashpoint in the ongoing farmer-herder crisis that has plagued Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
While Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration has made repeated calls for federal intervention and better policing of rural communities, residents continue to bear the brunt of unchecked violence.
The governor has also been under increasing pressure from civil society groups, traditional leaders, and opposition figures to address the persistent security breakdown.
Tensions have further been exacerbated by the perceived inaction of security forces during attacks. Community members in Naka accused nearby military personnel of failing to respond despite being alerted during Sunday’s onslaught, a claim that adds to growing public distrust in the security architecture.
With displaced persons swelling temporary camps and survivors recounting tales of horror, calls for urgent intervention by both the federal and state governments are growing louder.
Analysts say unless concrete steps are taken—including improved intelligence gathering, proactive policing, and enhanced military responsiveness—Benue’s security crisis could escalate into an even more devastating humanitarian catastrophe.
