Fear has gripped residents of Tombo Council Ward in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State following the killing of a former councilor, Mr. Atindiga Tsebee, by suspected armed herdsmen.
The incident occurred over the weekend along the Ayilamo–Anyiin Road near Tsukwa Village, while Tsebee was returning from a security meeting convened to address recent attacks and rising insecurity in the area.
According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen ambushed the vehicle in which the former councilor was travelling and opened fire on the occupants. The vehicle reportedly belonged to another community leader, Zaki Terngu Iorhuna.
“They were returning from a security meeting to discuss the spate of attacks in the communities when the armed herdsmen ambushed and opened fire on them, killing Tsebee on the spot,” a community source said.
The attack has plunged the area into mourning and created renewed tension across Logo LGA, a community that has suffered repeated violence linked to herder-farmer clashes in recent years.
Residents say the killing has triggered fresh fears of reprisal attacks, forcing many people to flee their homes. Several communities in the area are reportedly deserted, with villagers seeking safety in nearby towns and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Community leaders have condemned the killing and called on the state and federal governments to deploy more security operatives to the area to prevent further bloodshed.
A local youth leader, who spoke to reporters, described the incident as “one attack too many,” lamenting that rural communities in Benue continue to face constant threats despite repeated appeals for protection.
“Our people can no longer go to their farms or travel safely. We need soldiers and police presence here before the situation gets worse,” he said.
The Benue State Police Command is yet to release an official statement on the attack as of the time of filing this report.
Benue State has been one of the hardest-hit states in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where violent clashes between armed herdsmen and farming communities have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. Despite several government interventions, attacks have persisted, leaving many communities displaced and in fear.
