(JUST IN) Midnight Massacre: Suspected Herdsmen Kill Scores in Benue Capital

A deadly overnight attack by suspected herdsmen has left several people feared dead and many others injured in Mtsewnem, a community in Akondutyough village, located in the North Bank area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The assault reportedly occurred around 3:00 a.m. when the assailants stormed the village under the cover of darkness, targeting residents as they slept. Eyewitnesses and local sources described scenes of chaos and devastation in the aftermath.

Humanitarian worker and human rights advocate, Ukan Kurugh, reacted strongly to the incident, calling it “deeply disturbing” and sharing his alarm over the attack’s proximity to the city center.

“At 3:00 a.m. today, I received a heartbreaking distress call, accompanied by chilling video footage and photographs of yet another suspected herdsmen attack,” Kurugh said in a public statement. “This time, the horror unfolded in North Bank, less than a 40-minute drive from Makurdi town.”

He criticized the apparent lack of deterrence, stating that the attackers “continue to strike with impunity,” despite the presence of security forces and the efforts of state and federal authorities.

“To the wounded and to the families who lost loved ones, my heart grieves with you,” Kurugh added. “We will not turn away. We will not be silent. We will continue to mourn and demand action.”

As of the time of this report, repeated efforts to reach the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, Edet Udeme, for official comment were unsuccessful.

The attack marks another grim chapter in the ongoing violence that has plagued rural communities in Benue State, often linked to clashes between herders and farming populations. Authorities are yet to release an official death toll or provide further details.