At least nine people have been reportedly killed following a fresh attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Agena community in Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.
The early morning assault, which occurred on Saturday, saw the attackers invade the community in large numbers, setting homes, the local market, and food storage barns on fire. The incident left widespread destruction and forced many residents to flee for safety.
The attack has revived memories of the tragic 2018 Mbalom church attack, when gunmen stormed St. Ignatius Catholic Church in the same area, killing 19 people, including two priests, Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha.
Local sources said several residents remain missing, while one injured victim is currently receiving treatment.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the attack as coordinated and executed under the cover of dawn.
“People were fast asleep when the attackers sneaked into the community around 5am and began setting houses and the market ablaze,” he said.
“As residents attempted to flee, the gunmen opened fire on them, killing innocent people without provocation. So far, nine corpses have been recovered, but we fear the number may rise as many persons are still missing.”
He lamented that the incident had cast a shadow over Easter preparations in the community, calling on the government to urgently intervene.
“It is a sad Easter for our people. We cannot understand why these killings continue,” he added.
The Security Adviser to the Gwer East Local Government Chairman, Austin Awua, confirmed the casualty figure after visiting the scene, describing the situation as dire.
“The victims are mostly young men. Several persons are still missing, although we have recovered nine bodies so far,” he said.
Awua added that residents had reported unusual movements between 4am and 5am before the attackers began burning houses and the community market.
“At the moment, we cannot ascertain the reason for this unprovoked attack. The community is deserted, as residents have fled for safety,” he said.
He disclosed that security operatives, including the military, police, and civil defence personnel, had been deployed to the area to prevent further violence.
“In their usual pattern, the armed herdsmen struck and fled. Security personnel are now on ground to forestall any recurrence,” Awua stated.
Also confirming the incident, Chairman of Gwer East Local Government Council, Timothy Adi, said security had been reinforced while search-and-rescue efforts were ongoing.
Reacting, Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor expressed sympathy to the affected families and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
He warned against what he described as a growing pattern of targeted attacks in parts of the state, vowing that such acts of violence would not be allowed to continue.
The governor also commended the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for their swift response, noting that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.
Residents were urged to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, for further comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
