A community in Benue State has been thrown into deep tension following an attack by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. The incident, which occurred on March 19, 2025, in Jato Aka town, located in the Kwande Local Government Area of the state, has left the community reeling and grappling with shock and fear.
According to sources familiar with the situation, seven people, including two Nigerian Army officers, were killed in the attack. The assault took place in the afternoon, and while the details surrounding the motives of the attackers are still unclear, the violence has raised concerns about the escalating insecurity in the region.
Sources reported that the armed men launched a brutal ambush on members of the Nigerian Army, who were carrying out a rescue mission in the area. The soldiers were reportedly attempting to secure the release of several people who had been abducted by the herdsmen on the outskirts of Jato Aka town earlier in the day. The soldiers were caught in the ambush as they tried to respond to the distress call.
The attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, were said to have overwhelmed the soldiers, resulting in the tragic deaths of two army personnel. The source further revealed that other soldiers sustained injuries during the attack. One of the injured soldiers has been rushed to the NKST Hospital in Jato Aka for medical treatment, while another soldier is still missing.
In addition to the military casualties, five other civilians were killed in the raid, bringing the total number of deaths to seven. The identities of the civilians who lost their lives in the attack have yet to be fully confirmed, but their deaths have further intensified the fear and tension within the community.
This attack is part of a growing pattern of violence in Benue State, particularly in rural communities. The state, which has long been plagued by conflicts between farmers and herders, has witnessed several similar attacks over the past few years. Fulani herdsmen, often blamed for such violence, have been involved in deadly clashes with farmers, resulting in the loss of lives and the displacement of hundreds of people.
While the motives behind the recent attack are still being investigated, it is widely believed that the raid was linked to ongoing tensions between local farmers and herders in the region. The ongoing conflict has been exacerbated by disputes over grazing land, crop destruction, and the movement of cattle, which have often led to violent confrontations.
Many residents in Jato Aka and surrounding communities have expressed fear that the situation could worsen if immediate action is not taken by both the state and federal governments to address the root causes of these conflicts.
The attack on the military personnel has raised concerns about the capacity of security forces to protect local communities and combat the rising tide of insecurity in the state. According to the source, the army officers were part of a larger security effort to rescue individuals who had been abducted by the attackers. The fact that the ambush occurred while security forces were on a mission to protect citizens has raised questions about the effectiveness of security strategies in the region.
The Nigerian Army, which has been deployed to various parts of the country to address security challenges, has not yet issued an official statement regarding the attack, but sources have confirmed that investigations are underway. The death of the two soldiers is likely to lead to increased calls for greater protection of military personnel operating in volatile areas.
Local police forces have also been involved in the investigation, but their capacity to respond to such sophisticated attacks has been questioned by several community leaders. The lack of adequate security infrastructure in rural areas has made it difficult for law enforcement to effectively respond to threats, leading to a sense of helplessness among the residents.
The attack in Jato Aka town has left the community deeply shaken. Many residents have expressed concern over their safety and are calling for more action from the government to address the insecurity in the area. Local leaders have urged both the state and federal governments to do more to protect their people from attacks by armed groups.
Some community members have criticized the government for its perceived inaction in the face of escalating violence. They have called for a more robust security presence in the region, including more military deployments and the strengthening of law enforcement agencies to tackle the menace of armed groups operating in rural communities.
One resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We are living in fear every day. This is not the first time herders have attacked our community, but the level of violence keeps increasing. We need urgent action from the government to stop these attacks and bring peace to our land.”.
Benue State, in particular, has been at the center of this crisis. The state has enacted anti-grazing laws to regulate the movement of herders and reduce the conflict between farmers and herders. However, these laws have been met with resistance from some groups, including herders who argue that the laws infringe on their rights to move freely and graze their cattle.
The violence resulting from these clashes has displaced thousands of people and has had a devastating impact on local communities. In addition to the loss of lives, these attacks have disrupted farming activities, destroyed homes, and strained local resources. Many affected communities are now in desperate need of humanitarian aid and government intervention.
