Residents of Ondo community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, fled their homes on Tuesday after suspected armed herdsmen launched a fresh attack on the area, raising fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in the state.
Sources in the community said the attackers stormed the village in the early hours of Tuesday and opened fire, forcing residents to run into nearby bushes and neighbouring communities to escape.
As of the time of filing this report, the number of people killed or injured in the attack could not be independently confirmed. However, residents said the community remained deserted as many families abandoned their homes for fear of further violence.
One of the first people to raise the alarm was a native of the community and the Labour Party House of Assembly candidate for the 2027 election, Hon. Jimmy Nart.
In a message shared early Tuesday, Nart alerted residents to the unfolding attack and urged them to take immediate steps to protect themselves.
“I just received information from my family that Fulani terrorists are currently attacking Ondo, Ugboju. Protect yourself,” he said.
His warning quickly spread across social media and messaging platforms as residents sought information about the situation and contacted relatives living in the affected area.
The latest attack comes barely 48 hours after another deadly assault on Otukpo-Nobi community, also in Otukpo Local Government Area.
In that incident, suspected armed herdsmen reportedly invaded the community, killing more than 18 people and leaving several others injured. The attack sparked fresh outrage among residents and renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect communities in the area.
Tuesday’s attack has further heightened fears that armed groups are continuing to target communities in Benue despite repeated military and police operations across the state.
Residents who escaped the latest attack said they fled with little or no belongings as gunshots echoed across the community.
Some families reportedly sought refuge in neighbouring villages, while others moved to safer parts of Otukpo Local Government Area.
“We just ran for our lives when we heard gunshots,” one resident said. “People abandoned their homes because nobody knew where the attackers were heading next.”
Many residents expressed concern that repeated attacks were disrupting farming activities at a time when many farmers should be preparing or tending their crops during the rainy season.
Benue, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “Food Basket,” has suffered repeated attacks over the years, with many farming communities experiencing violence linked to clashes involving armed herders and local residents, as well as attacks by heavily armed criminal groups.
The persistent insecurity has forced thousands of people from their homes, destroyed farmlands and affected agricultural production in many parts of the state.
Otukpo Local Government Area, one of the major communities in Benue South Senatorial District, has witnessed several security incidents in recent years, including attacks on villages, kidnappings and armed robberies.
The latest violence is expected to increase pressure on security agencies to strengthen surveillance and respond quickly to distress calls from vulnerable communities.
Although security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on Tuesday’s attack as of the time of filing this report, residents appealed to the Federal Government and the Benue State Government to deploy more security personnel to communities facing repeated attacks.
Community leaders also called for increased patrols in rural areas, saying the presence of security operatives would help restore confidence among residents and discourage further attacks.
The renewed violence comes amid growing national concern over insecurity in parts of the North-Central region, where several communities have come under repeated attacks in recent months.
President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly directed security agencies to intensify operations against terrorists, bandits and other armed criminal groups across the country.
The military, police, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have continued joint operations in several troubled areas, but many rural communities say they still face frequent attacks.
For residents of Ondo community, however, the immediate concern is safety.
Many families remained displaced on Tuesday, uncertain about when they would be able to return home.