Gunmen kill 25 in fresh attacks across two Benue communities

At least 25 people were killed over the weekend in two separate attacks carried out by unidentified gunmen in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria, reigniting fears over the persistent communal violence plaguing the region.

The first attack occurred on Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Ankpali village, located in Apa Local Government Area, where 14 people were reportedly shot dead during an overnight raid. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the assailants stormed the village, firing indiscriminately and torching homes.

The second incident took place later on Sunday evening in Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area, where 11 more people were killed in a similarly coordinated assault.

Local security sources and community leaders have attributed the violence to longstanding tensions between nomadic herders and sedentary farming communities — a conflict that has persisted for years due to competition over land, grazing routes, and water resources.

Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attacks in a statement issued on Monday, calling the killings “senseless acts of terror” and vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice. He also directed security agencies to intensify surveillance and patrols in the affected communities to prevent further bloodshed.

In response to the killings, security forces have been deployed to the affected areas, although local residents report that many have already fled to neighboring communities for fear of further attacks.

Several homes and farms were reportedly destroyed, further compounding the losses suffered by the victims’ families.

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The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incidents and stated that investigations are ongoing to identify the perpetrators and their motives. No arrests have been made as of the time of this report.

Benue State, often referred to as Nigeria’s “food basket,” has suffered a devastating wave of deadly communal clashes in recent years. According to data from Amnesty International, more than 7,000 people have been killed in the state over the past two years alone due to farmer-herder violence and other forms of rural conflict.

Human rights groups have consistently called on the Nigerian government to implement lasting security and policy solutions, including land reforms, improved security architecture, and conflict mediation programs, to address the root causes of the crisis.

Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies are urging the state and federal governments to provide emergency support for displaced persons in Apa and Gwer West LGAs, many of whom are now without shelter, food, or medical assistance.