Armed thugs attack Senator Udende at Harvest Thanksgiving in Benue 

Violence again erupted in Benue State after armed thugs attacked the senator representing Benue North East senatorial district, Senator Emmanuel Udende, during the 2025 annual Harvest and Thanksgiving celebration held at Kpe Aya, Tsua Mbagbera in Vandeikya Local Government Area.

The attackers reportedly intercepted the senator’s advance team, assaulting some of his aides and supporters before forcing them to flee into nearby bushes. Several vehicles belonging to the team were also vandalized.

Witnesses said the group later obstructed the senator’s convoy but were eventually pushed back by security personnel attached to the lawmaker, who cleared the road and escorted him to the event venue.

According to eyewitness accounts, the programme was underway at the House of Solution Church of All Nations in the Vandeikya area when the thugs regrouped and stormed the venue, chanting “No Alia No Benue.” 

They allegedly disrupted the gathering and injured several people, though the senator remained unharmed due to the heavy security around him.

Political attacks targeting members of the opposition within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State particularly those aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume have reportedly become frequent, with some incidents aimed at preventing them from attending public or religious events.

Confirming the incident, the senator’s media adviser, Jerry Iorngaem, said he narrowly escaped after the advance team was attacked.

According to him: ”What you heard is true, we were on our way to a church programme, the 2025 annual Harvest and thanksgiving at Kpe Aya, Tsua Mbagbera, Vandeikya Local Governement Area when my i was attacked , my vehicles destroyed and were chased into the bushes .

” I personally escaped by the whiskers and managed to find my way at the venue. The senator’s convoy was blocked as well from accessing the venue by thugs.

” It was the security personnel who removed the blockage and escorted Senator Udende into the venue, but towars the end of the programme we saw the Chairman of the Local Government Dennis Terkura Guda, the police DPO and other thugs who violently chased us away using all manner of weapons , infact they turned down all the canopies at the time the senator was on his way.

” They were chanting songs of ‘No Alia No Benue ‘, threatening that nobody will be allowed to hold any Church programme here as long as that person does not belong to the camp of the State Governor, Hyacinth Alia“.

“I call on the security agencies to take note of these attacks that have become too many in this state by these No Alia No Benue group of thugs pathetic to the state Governor because these are not part of our democracy.

“I will make a formal complaint like we have always done and will again take it up at the higher authorities . This is unfortunate and unacceptable in a civilized and democratic country .”

Earlier this year, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, was reportedly attacked by suspected thugs at the Makurdi Airport during a state visit.

Members of the National Assembly and other public officials believed to be loyal to the SGF have also faced similar disruptions in the past. 

Those previously affected include senators Titus Zam and Dickson Tarkhir, as well as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr. Pius Akutah, and the Executive Director, Accounts and Finance of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Dr. Mathias Byuan, among others.