Fresh Herdsmen Attacks Leave Several Feared Dead, Villages Razed in Benue

A fresh wave of coordinated attacks by suspected armed herdsmen has left several people feared dead and dozens of homes destroyed in parts of Benue State, throwing communities into panic and displacing scores of residents.

The deadly assaults, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday, targeted multiple villages across Tombo Mbaya in Buruku Local Government Area, as well as the adjoining communities of Mbachoughu and Mbanyagber in Tarka LGA.

Villages affected by the violence include Ortese Mbaatsua, Garagboughul, Usen, Tomahar, and Tse Damkor, where residents recounted harrowing scenes of bloodshed and destruction.

Eyewitnesses described how the attackers, believed to be heavily armed, stormed the settlements in a well-coordinated fashion—setting homes ablaze and forcing villagers to flee for their lives.

A local source who spoke with our correspondent under condition of anonymity said the scale of devastation was unlike anything seen in recent months.

“People were running in all directions. Houses were burning, and we could hear gunshots all around. Many have been killed, though we are yet to confirm the exact number. Some families are still missing,” the source said.

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The attacks have led to mass displacement, with hundreds of residents, including women and children, now taking refuge in nearby towns and makeshift shelters, according to humanitarian observers in the area.

Many of the displaced are reportedly traumatized and in urgent need of food, medical attention, and shelter.

While official casualty figures have not yet been released, local authorities are said to be assessing the extent of the damage and mobilizing relief efforts. Security agencies have also been deployed to the affected areas, though residents continue to express concerns over the recurrence of such attacks and the seeming lack of deterrence.

Community leaders are calling for swift government intervention, stronger security presence, and a lasting solution to the persistent herdsmen-farmer clashes that have plagued parts of Benue and other Middle Belt states for years.

As at the time of filing this report, neither the Benue State Government nor the Nigerian Police Force had issued an official statement regarding the latest attacks.

However, local sources stress that the humanitarian situation is worsening, and urgent action is required to prevent further escalation.