Fresh Violence in Benue: Dozens Feared Dead in Naka and Apa Attacks
Suspected armed herdsmen have launched coordinated attacks on two communities in Benue State, leaving dozens dead and several others abducted. The twin assaults occurred Sunday evening and night in Edikwu Ankpali (Apa LGA) and Tyoshin community in Naka (Gwer West LGA), heightening fears of a renewed wave of violence in Nigeria’s food-producing heartland.
Naka Attack: Fear and Death in the Night
Victims Ambushed While Sleeping
Late Sunday night, attackers stormed the Tyoshin community in Naka, under the cover of darkness. Eyewitnesses described the assault as “brutal and calculated,” with residents caught off guard in their homes.
Among those killed was Monday Dooden, a native who had previously fled similar violence years ago. His brother, Akawe Francis, shared his anguish on social media:
“Monday Dooden, my brother, we ran away from the village because of Fulani attacks to Naka over 10 years ago, but we didn’t escape. Last night you were killed by the same Fulani.”
The exact number of casualties is still being verified as emergency responders and community members search the area for survivors and bodies.
Apa LGA: At Least 25 Killed in Edikwu Ankpali
Evening Attack Triggers Panic, Abductions
Just hours earlier, suspected herdsmen invaded Edikwu Ankpali community in Apa LGA, reportedly killing at least 25 people and abducting several others. Witnesses recounted how the attackers opened fire indiscriminately around 6 p.m., sending families fleeing into nearby bushes.
Local residents described the scene as chaotic and horrifying, with blood-stained homes, burning property, and cries for help echoing across the community.
Benue’s Long War: A Crisis Without End
Benue State has long been plagued by deadly confrontations between farmers and herders, often resulting in mass casualties and internal displacement. The 2017 anti-open grazing law, intended to curb these clashes, has been inconsistently enforced, leaving vulnerable communities like Naka and Apa exposed to ongoing attacks.
Despite repeated pleas from citizens and traditional leaders, government response remains sluggish, and security reinforcements are rarely sustained in affected areas.
Call for Justice and Protection
As survivors mourn the dead and bury their loved ones, civil society groups and residents are calling on President Bola Tinubu, the Benue State Government, and federal security agencies to take immediate action.
“This is no longer a conflict over land; it’s an assault on our existence,” said one resident. “How many more must die before the government acts?”
