Breaking: Midnight attack by suspected herdsmen leaves many people dead in Benue

Tragedy struck in the early hours of Thursday as suspected herdsmen launched a deadly assault on Mtsewnem, Akondutyough village in the North Bank axis of Makurdi, the capital of Benue State.

The unprovoked attack, which occurred around 3:00 a.m., reportedly left several residents dead and many others with varying degrees of injuries.

According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants stormed the quiet agrarian community while most residents were asleep, unleashing terror in a calculated and brutal onslaught that has once again plunged Benue into mourning.

“They came without warning and began shooting indiscriminately,” said a local resident who narrowly escaped the violence. “We heard screams, gunshots, and people running for safety. Some homes were set on fire. It’s a nightmare.”

Reacting to the incident, prominent Benue-based humanitarian worker and human rights advocate, Ukan Kurugh, expressed deep anguish over the killings.

In an emotional statement posted on social media, Kurugh described the attack as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” condemning what he called the continued impunity of violent non-state actors in the region.

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“At 3:00 a.m. today, I received a heartbreaking distress call, accompanied by chilling video footage and photographs of yet another suspected herdsmen attack,” he wrote.

“This time, the horror unfolded in the North Bank, less than a 40-minute drive from Makurdi town. These brazen attackers continue to strike with impunity, undeterred by the presence of state and federal authorities. They have defied the President, the Governor, and our entire security apparatus.”

“To the wounded and to the families who lost loved ones, my heart grieves with you. Your pain is our pain. We will not turn away. We will not be silent. We are wide awake and we will continue to speak, to mourn, and to demand action.”

Kurugh also shared graphic images and video footage from the scene, showing bodies lying in pools of blood and wounded residents being assisted by fellow villagers. The material, though disturbing, serves as a stark reminder of the growing insecurity in the state.

As of the time of filing this report, multiple attempts to contact the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edet Udeme, for an official statement proved unsuccessful. The absence of immediate security response or clarification has further fueled public outrage and anxiety.

Benue State has been a flashpoint for violent clashes between herders and farming communities, with the North Bank area previously experiencing similar unrest.

Despite repeated calls for action, residents say they continue to live in fear, accusing the government and security agencies of inaction and neglect.

Thursday’s attack adds to a long list of deadly incidents that have plagued Benue State, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities.

The state’s anti-open grazing law, though praised by many, has also led to heightened tensions, especially in border communities.

Human rights groups and civil society organisations are now renewing calls on the federal government to tackle insecurity holistically, deploy more forces to volatile regions, and bring the perpetrators to justice.