At least four people have been killed, several women brutally tortured, and another declared missing following a violent attack by suspected armed herdsmen in Udei and Nzorov communities, Guma Local Government Area, Benue State.
The attack occurred on Monday evening when a group of displaced persons went to fetch firewood at Tse Nyamkume Village along the Yogbo Udei Road. These victims had previously fled their homes due to earlier violence and were seeking refuge in Udei. Eyewitnesses said that as they returned, they were ambushed by a heavily armed gang of suspected herdsmen.
Among the victims was Kenneth Gbayier, a native of Mbalagh who had taken shelter in Udei after previous attacks forced him to leave his village. He was accompanied by another young man from Saawuan Gboodo Village and several women. According to a local source, Gbayier was shot and repeatedly attacked with machetes, sustaining injuries that led to his death.
“The attackers opened fire on them and then used machetes to inflict fatal wounds. Kenneth could not survive the brutal assault,” the source said.
Reports indicate that the women in the group were captured and subjected to severe torture, while the second young man managed to escape into the nearby bush. He remains missing, and his current whereabouts are unknown, heightening fear among the residents of the area.
This latest attack comes just two days after another deadly incident along the Ajimaka Road, where two Tiv travelers and a security personnel escorting them were reportedly killed by armed herders. Another farmer was allegedly macheted near the Ahentse axis of Nzorov Council Ward, further demonstrating the escalating threat to rural communities in Guma Local Government Area.
Community leaders and residents have expressed deep concern about the continued attacks, which they say are worsening food insecurity and deepening the humanitarian crisis in Benue State. “Armed herders are relentlessly invading rural settlements, destroying farmlands, and terrorizing villagers. The situation is becoming increasingly dangerous for everyone, and urgent intervention is needed,” one local resident said.
Authorities have urged residents to exercise extreme caution when moving along bush paths and rural routes, noting that these areas have become highly unsafe due to the frequent attacks.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent DSP Udeme Edet, stated that the command had not received official reports of the incidents at the time, but investigations are expected to be launched to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The attacks highlight the growing insecurity in Benue State, particularly in rural communities, and underscore the urgent need for proactive measures by security agencies to protect vulnerable populations and restore peace in the region.
Residents and community leaders have called for increased patrols, intelligence led operations, and rapid response units to prevent further loss of life and curb the escalating violence by suspected herders in the area.
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