Many people have been feared dead and several others declared missing after suspected armed herdsmen attacked Anwule community in Oglewu, a district in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to local sources, the attackers stormed the village early Tuesday morning, targeting farmers who were working on their farmlands. Witnesses said the invaders wielded machetes, guns, and other dangerous weapons, killing several people and destroying farm produce.
Residents who managed to escape said the assault was sudden and violent, forcing hundreds of villagers to flee their homes in search of safety in neighbouring communities such as Otukpo and Agatu.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Iorliam, said that the attackers surrounded the village and began shooting sporadically before setting houses and food barns on fire.
“They came when people were in their farms. We heard gunshots and people started running. Some who couldn’t escape were caught and killed,” he said.
Another eyewitness, Mrs. Patricia Ameh, said she fled with her children into the bush and spent the night there before finding refuge in a nearby village.
“We left everything behind—our food, our goats, and our farms. I don’t even know where my husband is,” she said tearfully.
Community leaders said they were still compiling the list of the dead and missing, as many families have been separated during the chaos. So far, local sources report that at least 15 people are feared killed, though security agencies have not yet confirmed the figure.
When contacted, the Benue State Police Command said it had received reports of the attack and was working with local vigilante groups to restore calm.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Anene, said security operatives had been deployed to the area. “Our men have moved to the scene to assess the situation and ensure peace is restored. The number of casualties cannot yet be confirmed until the operation is concluded,” she said.
Local officials, including the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, also confirmed the attack, describing it as “unprovoked and barbaric.” He appealed to the state and federal governments to provide immediate assistance to displaced families and strengthen security in the area.
Benue State, known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has for years been one of the states most affected by violent clashes between farmers and armed herders. These conflicts often arise over disputes involving grazing lands and crop destruction.
Since 2018, when the Benue State Anti-Open Grazing Law came into effect, attacks by suspected herdsmen have escalated in several communities, including Guma, Logo, Agatu, and Gwer West. Thousands of people have been killed and displaced, with many still living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the state.
In April 2023, similar attacks in Guma and Otukpo local government areas left over 40 people dead, sparking nationwide outrage and calls for stronger government action.
Security experts say the situation in Benue and other parts of the North Central region reflects deeper problems such as lack of effective law enforcement, poverty, and competition over scarce land and water resources.
Following the latest attack, community leaders and civil society organisations have renewed calls for urgent intervention by the federal government.
The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been asked to send relief materials to the displaced residents, many of whom are currently sheltering in schools and churches in nearby towns.
A local youth leader, Mr. Tersoo Adagba, told reporters that villagers are living in fear and have lost confidence in the government’s ability to protect them.
“How long will this continue? Every few weeks we hear of killings and no one is punished. We need real protection, not promises,” he said.
Human rights activists have also urged security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Early reports from the Oglewu district indicate that hundreds of residents have fled their homes. Many of them are now camping in makeshift shelters without food or medical care.
“We are appealing to the state government to send help,” said Mrs. Veronica Ede, a local women’s leader. “People are sleeping in the open. Children are hungry and there is no security presence here.”
As of Tuesday evening, the roads leading into the affected area remained deserted, with many villagers too afraid to return home. Some farmers who survived the attack said they may not go back to their fields for fear of another invasion.
The attack has also worsened the already fragile food situation in the area, as Benue is one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural states. Continuous attacks have forced many farmers to abandon their lands, raising concerns about food shortages and rising prices.
As of press time, the Benue State Government had yet to issue an official statement on the incident. However, a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Governor Hyacinth Alia was expected to visit the affected communities after receiving a full briefing from security agencies.
He added that the state government would likely call for more military and police presence in rural areas vulnerable to attacks.
Meanwhile, local leaders are urging the federal government to strengthen the Operation Whirl Stroke, a joint military task force set up to combat armed herdsmen and bandits in the North Central region.
