Over 160 Killed in Benue in One Month: Citizens Mourn as Armed Herdsmen Wreak Havoc

Security Personnel Among the Dead as Attacks Continue Unchecked

Benue State has witnessed a tragic escalation of violence, with more than 160 people—including two soldiers and a well-known police officer—losing their lives over the past month due to coordinated attacks by armed herdsmen. These deadly incursions have devastated multiple communities and sparked nationwide condemnation.

In response, women from the affected areas took to the streets, demanding that the government take swift and decisive action. Their cries echoed the sentiments of the Tiv academic community, who are now calling for self-defense mechanisms should the state fail to provide adequate protection.

Chronology of Attacks

A detailed timeline underscores the severity of the situation:

• May 2, 2025: Armed herdsmen stormed Akpete in Apa LGA, killing four individuals. Several others were injured, and some remain unaccounted for.
• May 4: Along the Adoka-Otukpo road in Otukpo LGA, two commercial passengers were killed, the driver was shot, and four others were abducted.
• May 6: APC member Johnson Akaabo and six others were slain in separate incidents across Gwer East and Makurdi LGAs.
• May 7: The District Head of Odugbeho, Chief Anthony Adejoh, and one other person were killed on their farm in Otobi-Akpa, Otukpo LGA.
• May 10: Twenty-three individuals were murdered across Guma, Logo, Ukum, and Kwande LGAs.
• May 11: Seven lives were lost in coordinated attacks on Bururku and Gwer West LGAs, prompting curfews by local authorities.
• May 17: Fifteen traders were ambushed and killed near Ogwumogbo and Okpo’okpolo in Agatu LGA.
• May 20: Four more deaths were recorded in Gwer West and Guma LGAs, including a former PDP ward chairman.
• May 22: Armed herdsmen murdered two soldiers and two civilians in Ikobi, Apa LGA.
• May 24: A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongu, was shot on the Makurdi–Naka road; two of his passengers were abducted.
• May 25: In Gwer West, 42 individuals—including women, children, and a police officer—were massacred.
• May 25 (later in the day): Three more were killed in Tse Orjime, Makurdi. Protesters carried the victims’ bodies to a local lawmaker’s residence.
• May 25 (evening): Herdsmen blockaded Oweto-Apa-Adoka-Otukpo road, shooting a motorcyclist and kidnapping multiple truck drivers.
• June 2: A combined death toll of 46 was recorded in separate attacks on Apa and Gwer West LGAs.

Women Demand Action

Amid the rising violence, women in Apa LGA, under the banner “The Voice of the Voiceless Women in Apa,” staged protests. Bearing signs like “Apa is not Fulani land” and “Government has failed us,” they decried the carnage and warned that their communities were becoming “villages of widows.”

In a public letter titled Notification of a Peaceful Demonstration, the women described how attackers entered homes and farms to commit murder and destruction. One anonymous leader highlighted the government’s “golden silence” and warned of the psychological toll on children and families.

Humanitarian Groups Sound the Alarm

The humanitarian coalition BENUE-RESPONSE (comprising ActionAid Nigeria, Cordaid, Jireh Doo Foundation, and Plan International) emphasized that the crisis in Benue is not just sporadic violence but a sustained terror campaign. The Country Director of ActionAid, Andrew Mamedu, expressed grave concern about the scale of devastation during a press briefing in Makurdi.

“Children now grow up to the sound of gunfire,” said David Habba, who represented the organization. “Fathers are unable to provide safety, and entire futures are left in uncertainty.”

Tiv Professors Call for Self-Defense

The Forum of Ayatutu Professors, a body of Tiv academics, issued a statement urging the community to adopt a localized approach to security. Citing the failure of governmental protection, they called for self-help within legal frameworks, particularly as they believe these attacks are aimed at land grabs, economic sabotage, and religious displacement.

They stressed the importance of mobilizing community resources to protect land, culture, and livelihoods from both herdsmen and their alleged political allies.

Catholic Priests Condemn Security Failures

The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA) of Makurdi Diocese condemned the complicity of military personnel in the continued violence. According to Revd. Fr. Joseph Beba, over 50 lives were lost, and 15 parishes were shut down due to the ongoing attacks.

The Governor’s Chief of Staff, accompanied by security officials, visited affected LGAs to assess the destruction, with promises of bringing the culprits to justice. Police Commissioner Ifeanyi Emenari vowed immediate action against the perpetrators.

Army Chief’s Visit Sparks Renewed Hope

The relocation of Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oloyede to Makurdi raised hopes among residents. He held private talks with Governor Alia and visited some of the devastated areas in preparation for strategic military action.

Call for Enforcement of Grazing Law

Francis Odiir, Secretary of the Campaign for Equal Rights and Opportunities for all Nigerians (CERON), criticized the relaxation of the Benue Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017. He argued that lax enforcement led to increased herder invasions and emphasized the need for military backing to implement the law effectively.