At least 33 people are feared dead following coordinated attacks by suspected herdsmen on communities in Benue State’s Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas.
Dozens more remain unaccounted for as residents continue headcounts in the aftermath of the violence.
The assault began around 7 p.m. on Sunday in Tse-Antswam, a settlement near Naka—the headquarters of Gwer West LGA—where 17 people were reportedly killed and many others forced to flee.
Local sources report that bodies were recovered near the LGEA Primary School, adjacent to the Federal Government Dam project site.
Many displaced residents have taken shelter in the school premises, where local police and community vigilantes are providing temporary security. Despite the proximity of a military checkpoint, locals expressed frustration over the lack of response during the attack, describing it as a “betrayal of public safety.”
Gwer West, which comprises 15 political wards, has seen 14 of them affected by similar violence in recent months. Naka, once considered a relative safe zone, is now seen as increasingly vulnerable.
In the neighboring Apa LGA, 16 additional deaths were reported in Edikwu and Ankpali communities. Local authorities have confirmed the fatalities and indicated that several individuals are still missing, with recovery efforts ongoing.
These attacks come on the heels of another security incident last Saturday, in which 14 female traders traveling from a market in Enugu State were abducted along the Owukpa road while aboard a Benue Link transport bus. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
The rising toll of deaths, displacement, and abductions underscores the deepening security crisis in Benue State and the urgent need for coordinated government and military response to protect lives and restore peace in affected areas.
