Suspected armed herders have carried out a series of violent raids across the Ohimini and Ukum Local Government Areas of Benue State, resulting in at least four fatalities and multiple injuries. The attacks have triggered widespread anxiety among the local population.
In Ohimini LGA, violence began on Friday in the Elulu community, where a man was killed and his motorcycle stolen. The assailants later moved to Agadagba, where a confrontation with local youth initially failed to yield stolen livestock but resulted in injuries. The attackers returned on Saturday evening, firing indiscriminately and killing two more residents. Additional reports indicate further violence occurred in the Ochobo and Ogoli-Ugboju areas, with multiple people wounded and cattle rustled.
A separate assault took place in the Tse-Gbemshin area of Ukum LGA during the early hours of Saturday. During this raid, a mother was killed, and her children suffered severe injuries from machete strikes.
Gabriel Adole, the chairman of Ohimini LGA, confirmed that three individuals died within his jurisdiction. He noted that security forces and local vigilante groups have been deployed to the affected regions to restore order. Governor Hyacinth Alia is reportedly providing support to help stabilize the area. Efforts to secure comments from Ukum LGA officials and state police spokespeople were unsuccessful.
