Tension has gripped Logo Local Government Area of Benue State after suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly attack on Tombu Council Ward, killing at least four people and destroying several settlements.
The attack, which occurred on Monday, August 25, was confirmed by a community leader, Mr. Joseph Anawah. He said the attackers, believed to be Fulani herders, invaded the area around 3:00 pm, setting fire to deserted communities, including Tse Mku in Tombu.
“It was a well-coordinated attack,” Anawah told reporters. “They moved in around 3 pm and started burning settlements that had already been abandoned out of fear. These people are camping in nearby deserted villages and continue to launch attacks on our people.”
He added that two farmers were killed on their farms on the outskirts of Ayilamo town. The victims were identified as Mr. Kaananfam Nyamikume of Tse Jigam village and another man known simply as Mr. Mson from Guma Local Government Area. A local medicine vendor was also reportedly killed during the attack.
The violence did not start on Monday alone. According to Anawah, another villager, Mr. Saaondo Mundu Azaye of Tse Azaye, was murdered the day before, on Sunday, August 24.
The search for missing persons is ongoing. On Tuesday, residents found two more lifeless bodies near the Tse Uza settlement. However, two other farmers are still unaccounted for, raising fears that the death toll could rise.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers seemed to know the area well and carried out the assault with ease, moving through abandoned farmlands and bushes. Many of the affected communities had been previously displaced in earlier waves of violence and had only recently begun to return and rebuild.
Anawah further alleged that the attackers are camping in deserted settlements such as Tse Ibor and Tse Ukpukuru in Anyibe, within the Mbawien clan of Tombu Council Ward. These areas, he said, have now become hideouts for armed herders, posing a continuous threat to returning residents.
“The government must act quickly. These attackers are still around. Our people are scared to go to their farms. How are we supposed to survive?” he asked.
Benue State has for years been the epicentre of deadly clashes between farming communities and armed herders, many of whom are believed to be Fulani. These conflicts are often rooted in disputes over land, grazing rights, and dwindling natural resources.
The anti-open grazing law enacted by the Benue State government in 2017 was meant to curb the crisis by banning open grazing and encouraging ranching. However, enforcement challenges and weak security infrastructure have made it difficult to fully implement the law, especially in rural areas.
The result has been continued attacks on communities like Logo, Guma, and Gwer West, where farming is the main source of livelihood. Hundreds of lives have been lost, and thousands of residents have been displaced, taking shelter in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the state.
Despite multiple security operations and promises from the federal government, the attacks have persisted, leading to widespread frustration among locals and community leaders.
In response to the latest attack, residents of Logo LGA are calling on the state and federal governments to take urgent action to stop the bloodshed.
Community leaders have appealed for increased military presence in the area and immediate humanitarian support for displaced families who have lost homes, farms, and loved ones.
“The situation is getting out of hand,” a youth leader in the area said. “We cannot continue to live like this. People are tired of promises. We need protection, and we need justice.”
So far, the Benue State Police Command has not issued an official statement regarding the incident, and no arrests have been reported as of the time of filing this report.
As the state continues to grapple with insecurity, residents in Tombu Council Ward and surrounding areas remain in fear, uncertain of what lies ahead. For many in the affected communities, the hope of returning to normal life is fading with each fresh attack.
