Two killed, several injured in fresh herdsmen attack on Benue community

At least two people have lost their lives after another violent incident hit Akpete community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen.

The attack, which occurred on Friday evening, also left several residents wounded, while many others were unaccounted for as fear forced villagers to flee their homes.

A resident of Akpete said the assailants first appeared in the community around midday but were confronted by local youths, compelling them to withdraw temporarily.

“They came around 12 noon but our youths stood up to them. Unfortunately, they returned around 6pm in much larger numbers and began moving from house to house looking for people to attack. By then, most residents had fled,” he said.

According to the source, one of the victims was killed after briefly returning to his house to pick up personal items, during which his motorcycle was also set on fire.

Another man was reportedly murdered nearby during the renewed onslaught.

The deceased were identified as Matthew Ochanga and Isaac Adanu. The source added that many others suffered serious injuries.

“The truth is that we are tired of these attacks. Many of our villages have been deserted. They want to take over our ancestral land. Our people can no longer go to their farms to produce food, and we have become helpless.”

Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command confirmed receiving reports of a separate attack by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen on Edikwu Icho community, also in Apa LGA, but noted that security operatives successfully repelled the assault.

In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, the police said officers from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) responded promptly and restored normalcy.

“The attack was repelled through the efforts of operatives of the Benue State Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad.

The general security situation in Apa Local Government Area remains calm,” the statement said.

The police also revealed that repairs were ongoing on the bridge connecting Ugbokpo, Idogbu, Ochumeku and Ikobi communities, which had earlier been destroyed by suspected herdsmen.

According to the Command, the reconstruction “is being carried out under heavy security presence.”

In a related development, the police disclosed that their operatives intercepted a suspect transporting ammunition in Ukum Local Government Area on the same Friday.

DSP Edet said the suspect, identified as Saamoga, also known as Aleki, was arrested at Tse Dubem following intelligence reports that he was moving live ammunition on a commercial motorcycle from Gbagir to Zaki-Biam.

“A search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of 117 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed inside socks within his handbag,” the statement noted, adding that charms and a mobile phone were also recovered.

The suspect was said to have sustained a gunshot wound while attempting to escape arrest and later died while undergoing treatment at the General Hospital in Zaki-Biam.

She added that initial findings showed the ammunition was allegedly being transported to Taraba State.

Commending his officers, Benue State Police Commissioner, Ifeanyi Emenari, praised their professionalism and assured residents of sustained, intelligence-driven policing across the state.

He further appealed to the public to remain calm and continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to help prevent and tackle crime.