At least 26 people have been killed and several others injured following separate late-night attacks by suspected armed herdsmen in Benue State. The deadly raids targeted Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa communities in the North Bank area of Makurdi, and also reached Kenvanger and Agbami villages in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
Residents say the Makurdi attack happened around midnight on Thursday, catching many by surprise. According to witnesses, over 25 people, mostly women and children, were gunned down in their sleep or while trying to flee. Armed men reportedly stormed the communities in large numbers, shooting without warning and breaking into homes.
Locals described the attack as sudden and unprovoked. One resident noted that the affected Makurdi communities had been peaceful, which made the invasion even more shocking. Many survivors have since fled the area, while others remain in hiding, gripped by fear.
A separate incident was also reported in the early hours of Friday in Katsina-Ala, where gunmen attacked Kenvanger and Agbami villages. In Kenvanger, one person was killed and others injured after an armed group broke into homes at about 1 am. A nursing mother’s cries during an attempted assault reportedly alerted nearby men, prompting a confrontation that led to gunfire.
In Agbami, villagers said the attackers used machetes on residents. Though no deaths were recorded there, several people were injured, and the entire community is now tense and on edge.
Police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the Makurdi attacks. She said officers have been deployed to the affected areas and investigations are ongoing. More details are expected as the police continue to gather information on the incidents.
