Several residents have been reportedly killed and many others injured following a violent pre-dawn attack by suspected herdsmen on Mtsewnem, Akondutyough village, located in the North Bank area of Makurdi, the capital of Benue State.
According to eyewitness accounts shared with Daily Post, the assailants struck the community at approximately 3:00 a.m., when most residents were still asleep. The assault, described as sudden and coordinated, left the community devastated and unprepared to defend itself.
Scene of Horror and Outrage
Shortly after the attack, graphic images and videos began circulating on social media platforms, showing the aftermath of the bloodshed. The visual evidence, combined with emergency distress calls from residents, quickly sparked public outrage and renewed demands for decisive government action to curb the growing insecurity in the region.
Rights Activist Decries Attack
Humanitarian advocate and prominent social rights activist, Ukan Kurugh, was among the first to raise alarm. In a statement released early Wednesday, he described the incident as “deeply disturbing” and criticized the continued failure of security forces to protect vulnerable communities.
“At exactly 3:00 a.m. today, I received a heartbreaking distress call, accompanied by horrifying video clips and photographs from another attack, this time in North Bank,” Kurugh said.
“This village is just about 40 minutes from Makurdi town, yet these killers continue to operate with audacity and impunity. They are not deterred by the presence of security agencies or the authority of the President and Governor.”
Kurugh also extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pledged to continue advocating for justice and accountability.
“To the wounded, and to the grieving families who have lost loved ones, my heart goes out to you. Your suffering is our collective pain. We will not be silent. We will not look away.”
Government, Police Yet to Respond
As of the time of this report, official confirmation and casualty figures have yet to be released. Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, Edet Udeme, were unsuccessful, leaving many questions unanswered.
The attack adds to the long list of violent incidents attributed to suspected herdsmen in Benue State, a region that has been plagued by recurrent communal and ethnic violence over land and grazing rights.
Residents are calling for urgent government intervention, increased security presence, and long-term solutions to prevent further bloodshed in the state known as Nigeria’s “Food Basket.”
