At least seven people have been confirmed dead following a sustained two-day assault on Anwuel village in Oglewu District, Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, by suspected armed herdsmen.
The Chairman of Ohimini Local Government, Adole Gabriel, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, revealing that the attackers struck on consecutive days, leaving widespread devastation in their wake.
“Two persons were killed yesterday, and the governor has sent his special adviser on security along with troops to contain the attacks,” Gabriel said, according to Channels TV.
“We visited the scene at Angwuel, where soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke had also been stationed, but the herders returned in a gestapo operation on Tuesday evening to attack the community again, killing five additional persons.”
Condemning the renewed violence, Gabriel described the killings as “unprovoked and barbaric,” lamenting that the once peaceful community had been completely deserted.
“Many residents have fled for safety. We have, however, drafted additional security personnel to restore peace and prevent further attacks,” he added.
The attacks have triggered outrage on social media, with residents and civil society organisations condemning the unrelenting violence against farming communities in Benue. Many have renewed calls for decisive intervention by the federal government and international partners to end the recurring bloodshed in the North-Central region.
Often described as Nigeria’s “Food Basket of the Nation,” Benue State has long been at the centre of clashes between armed herdsmen and farming communities. Thousands have been killed and countless villages destroyed over the years in a conflict that has persisted for decades.
Tensions worsened after the state government enacted the Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017, aimed at curbing farmer-herder clashes. While the law bans open grazing and promotes ranching, its enforcement has triggered violent reprisals from armed herders.
Despite the establishment of Operation Whirl Stroke—a joint military task force deployed in 2018 to restore order—attacks have continued. Communities such as Guma, Gwer West, Logo, Agatu, and Ohimini remain frequent targets, with hundreds killed in coordinated raids.
Earlier this year, over 40 people were reportedly massacred in separate attacks in Agatu and Gwer East LGAs, leaving many others displaced. Humanitarian organisations estimate that more than 1.5 million people in Benue are currently displaced due to herder-related violence.
Rights groups including Amnesty International and Intersociety have consistently accused the federal government of failing to safeguard rural populations or prosecute those responsible for the killings. They warn that the ongoing crisis could worsen food insecurity and social unrest across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies in the state have yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest incident.
