Suspected Herdsmen Attacks Leave 16 Dead in Benue, Protests Erupt on Major Highway

Suspected herdsmen launched coordinated attacks on Benue communities on Friday, leaving at least 16 people dead in Makurdi and Katsina Ala local government areas. The violence triggered angry protests that shut down the busy Makurdi–Lafia–Abuja highway for hours.

In Makurdi, six people were killed when gunmen invaded Abagena and Asom communities between 4 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Both communities, located near the Abagena Mega IDPs camp, have suffered repeated raids by armed herders. Witnesses said the attackers stormed the settlements firing sporadically, cutting down residents who tried to flee. “This is not the first time, it has become a permanent feature,” said Targema Unande, a community leader, who appealed for greater protection for local farmers.

Outraged residents responded by placing the corpses of the victims on the Makurdi–Daudu highway at about 8 a.m., demanding government intervention. More than 200 protesters blocked traffic in both directions, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. They vowed to remain on the road until both state and federal authorities address their plight.

In a separate incident in Katsina Ala, heavily armed militias ambushed a joint security team, killing at least 10 operatives. The attack took place during a clearance operation around Agu Centre in Mbatula/Mberev ward, near the Taraba border. Katsina Ala Chairman, Hon. Justine Shaku, confirmed the deaths in a statement, noting that the forces faced resistance from local militias, Fulani fighters, and suspected mercenaries allegedly brought in from Taraba.

According to Shaku, only two bodies have so far been recovered while several officers remain missing, including a well-known operative reportedly captured alive. He added that two Hilux vans were burned and motorcycles stolen by the attackers. Reinforcements have since been deployed to comb surrounding bushes for missing personnel.

Benue police spokesperson DSP Edet Edet said the command was yet to receive full details of the Makurdi incident, but confirmed that the Commissioner of Police had joined security forces on the ground in Katsina Ala to coordinate a response.