No fewer than nine persons have reportedly lost their lives following a fresh attack on Edikwu Ankpali in Edikwu Ward I of Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims were said to have been killed during a late-night raid on April 12 by suspected armed herders. They have since been buried in Ankpali, as residents decried what they described as inadequate reporting of the incident.
A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, lamented the killings, stressing that the victims were known members of the community.
“These are not numbers. These are people we know. This isn’t farming but burial. We are burying fathers, breadwinners, and the future of our families,” the source said.
Those reportedly killed were identified as Elaigwu Pelu, 31, a father of four; Oigene Ogah, 62, said to have 15 children; Adah Aboje, 78, who reportedly had 35 children; Peter Omafu, 59, a father of 13; John Musa, 33, a father of two; Ogagwu John, 31, a father of three; Eluma Ogbeni, 30, a father of four; John Elegbo, 39, a father of five; and Gideon Monday, 29, described as the only son of his parents.
Residents said the attack has plunged the community into fear, disrupting daily activities as many villagers have abandoned their farms and now live in anxiety.
The incident in Apa reportedly occurred shortly before another attack in Atakpa community in neighbouring Agatu Local Government Area. A local source, identified as Sunny, alleged that suspected herders carried out the attack on Monday night.
“These Fulani herdsmen invaded Atakpa community and killed two youths who tried to repel them,” he claimed. “Our boys were on surveillance because of what happened in Apa, and they encountered them.”
However, the police refuted the claim of fatalities. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Udeme Edet, said although there was an attack, no deaths were recorded.
“There was a report of an attack on the Atakpa community, but nobody was killed. One person was injured by a stray bullet and another is missing. Search is ongoing,” Edet stated.
The fresh violence has sparked reactions from community leaders. Ngbede Okpe, who visited Edikwu Ankpali and Ugbokpo to commiserate with affected families, expressed sadness over the killings, saying he abandoned his engagements to stand with the victims.
He assured residents of his support, describing the continued loss of lives as deeply troubling.
Similarly, another community leader, Solomon Eigege, condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric, senseless, and a direct assault on the peace and unity of the people.”
Also reacting, the Executive Director of Adakole Network for Peace in Agatu, Adakole James, described the killings as “unacceptable, barbaric, and inhuman,” noting that the violence had paralysed normal life in the affected communities.
He said residents could no longer farm, attend school, or carry out routine activities due to widespread fear.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Government has announced fresh security measures to address the situation.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Tersoo Kula, Governor Hyacinth Alia directed security agencies to take immediate action against armed groups operating in forest areas.
“The Governor has directed security agencies to immediately commence coordinated operations to dislodge armed herder terrorist camps identified in forests around Apa, Otukpo, Gwer-West and other parts of the state,” the statement read.
Kula added that the directive followed renewed attacks on communities, which the governor described as unacceptable and increasingly widespread.