Renewed Herders’ Attacks Leave Nine Dead in Benue, Including Police Officer

A wave of deadly violence has swept through communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, where nine people — including a police officer — were killed in a series of attacks by suspected armed herders. The affected communities include Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, Olegagbani, and Ikpele, which came under siege between Friday and Monday. According to local sources, the attackers reportedly crossed into the state from neighbouring Kogi and unleashed terror over a span of four days.

Residents say the violence began in Okwutanobe on Friday, with two fatalities. One person was killed in Okpokpolo on Saturday, followed by another fatality in Olegagbani on Monday. The bloodshed reached a peak on Tuesday in Ikpele, where four civilians and a police officer lost their lives. The chairman of Agatu LGA, James Melvin, confirmed the toll and expressed concern over the possibility that the attacks were reprisals by herders alleging cattle rustling by criminals. He also noted that many residents are now fleeing the area out of fear of further attacks.

In a separate but equally disturbing incident, two friends from Oju Local Government Area — Jonathan Ogah and Gabriel Ogodo — were killed by suspected Tiv youths while travelling on motorcycles along the Oju-Awajir road. One of the victims was recently married. Their deaths have ignited tension between the Igede-speaking communities of Oju and Obi LGAs and the Tiv communities in Gwer East and Konshisha LGAs. The discovery of their bodies caused panic and disrupted movement, particularly on the Oju-Aliade road, with travellers and students of the College of Education, Oju, abandoning the route.

This recent violence has revived longstanding tensions between Tiv and Igede communities, fuelled by protracted land disputes that successive administrations have struggled to resolve.

Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings and, in response, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to security agencies to apprehend the culprits. Through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor described the killings as unacceptable and warned against further acts of violence. He also referenced another incident in Nyifon community in Buruku LGA, where youths from Kusuv reportedly attacked residents after a disagreement linked to a boat mishap.

Governor Alia directed security operatives to work with traditional rulers and thoroughly comb the affected areas to arrest the perpetrators. He emphasized that no individual or group has the right to invade or attack another community under any pretext. He warned that any attempts to destabilize the fragile peace being restored in the state would not be tolerated.

The Senate Minority Leader and representative of Benue South Senatorial District, Senator Abba Moro, also condemned the killings of the two Igede youths, calling the act barbaric. In a statement by his media adviser, Emmanuel John, Moro urged the state government to urgently intervene in the escalating crisis across the Gwer/Konshisha/Oju axis.

Similarly, the Ito Youths Association, representing the Igede-speaking youth, decried the attack and expressed concern over the re-emergence of violence. In a joint statement by its National President, Andrew Abi, and Secretary, Ijoga Ipesi, the group lamented that the killings have once again disturbed the already fragile peace in the area.