At least 27 people have been killed and many others injured following fresh attacks by suspected herdsmen on Sunday evening in Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas of Benue State, Nigeria.
According to the Benue State Police Command, the violence erupted around 6:30 p.m., when gunmen stormed Edikwu Community in Apa LGA, shooting indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee. Nine bodies have been recovered from the area, with more people still missing.
In Naka, Gwer West, the attackers reportedly used a guerrilla-style approach to ambush Tse Antswam, a village near a military checkpoint on the Naka-Makurdi road. Eighteen bodies were found there as of Monday morning, with several others injured or still unaccounted for. Some villagers fled into the bush or jumped into wells to escape.
A source from the Apa LGA described the raid as unprovoked and devastating. “It was a night of horror. Some were at church, others relaxing when the shooting began. There’s nothing left in the village,” the source said.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edit Udeme, confirmed the attacks and said tactical teams had been deployed to restore calm. She stated that further updates on the number of casualties would be provided after investigations.
Local leaders and residents have called for urgent government intervention and better security to prevent further loss of life.
