At least seven persons have been confirmed killed in a sustained two-day attack on Anwuel village, Oglewu District, in the Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected armed herdsmen.
The Chairman of the Ohimini Local Government, Adole Gabriel, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday, said the attackers struck on two consecutive days, leaving behind scenes of horror and destruction.
“Two persons were killed yesterday, and the governor has sent his special adviser on security along with troops to contain the attacks," Gabriel said, according to Channels TV.
“We visited the scene at Angwuel, where soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke had also been stationed, but the herders returned in a gestapo operation on Tuesday evening to attack the community again, killing five additional persons.”
Condemning the renewed violence in the community, Gabriel described the killings as “unprovoked and barbaric,” noting that the once peaceful community had now been deserted.
“Many residents have fled for safety. We have, however, drafted additional security personnel to restore peace and prevent further attacks,” he added.
The killings have sparked widespread outrage on social media, with residents and civil society groups condemning the rising spate of attacks on farming communities in Benue.
Many have called for stronger action from the federal government and international support to end the incessant bloodshed in the North-Central region.
Benue State, referred to as Nigeria’s “Food Basket of the Nation,” has for years been a hotspot in the escalating conflict between armed herdsmen and farming communities.
Thousands of residents have been killed and villages destroyed in recurrent attacks that have ravaged the state for decades.
The violence intensified after the Benue State government enacted the Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017 to address farmer-herder clashes.
The law prohibits open grazing and encourages ranching, but its enforcement has led to repeated violent reprisals from armed herders.
Despite the establishment of Operation Whirl Stroke, a joint military task force deployed to the region in 2018, attacks have persisted.
Local government areas such as Guma, Gwer West, Logo, Agatu, and Ohimini have repeatedly come under siege, with hundreds killed in coordinated assaults.
Earlier this year, over 40 persons were reportedly massacred in separate attacks on villages in Agatu and Gwer East LGAs, while scores of others were displaced.
Humanitarian agencies estimate that more than 1.5 million people are currently displaced across Benue as a result of herder-related violence.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Intersociety, have repeatedly accused the federal government of failing to protect vulnerable farming populations or bring perpetrators to justice.
They warned that the continuing bloodshed risks deepening food insecurity and social instability across Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
However, as of the time of filing this report, security agencies in the state have not released a statement on the incident.
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