5 killed, 1 abducted in fresh Benue attacks

At least five people have been reportedly killed and one other abducted in fresh attacks by armed invaders on communities across three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State. The incidents, which occurred within the past 72 hours in Makurdi, Guma, and Gwer West LGAs, have caused residents of the affected communities to flee their […]

At least five people have been reportedly killed and one other abducted in fresh attacks by armed invaders on communities across three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State.
The incidents, which occurred within the past 72 hours in Makurdi, Guma, and Gwer West LGAs, have caused residents of the affected communities to flee their homes.
In Gwer West, a middle-aged man was reportedly killed while riding his motorcycle along the Agagbe–Abian road. His identity had yet to be confirmed at the time of filing this report.
Witnesses stated that the body was later evacuated to a mortuary in Agagbe town. The incident has renewed fears over safety on the busy route linking Naka and neighboring communities.
In a separate attack, four women were killed at a border settlement between Benue and Nasarawa states within the Mbayer/Yandev Council Ward of Guma LGA.
Locals reported that the victims were attacked at a fish pond around Yandev Mbagwen by suspected armed invaders. A resident noted that the women were fishing, fetching water, and washing clothes when the attackers arrived. The invaders allegedly attempted to chase them away from the pond before killing them.
The incident has heightened tension in the border communities, which have already experienced an influx of herders from neighboring Nasarawa State since the onset of the dry season.
Meanwhile, in Makurdi LGA, a man identified as Gbawuan, from the Mbalagh Council Ward, was allegedly abducted on Friday afternoon.
Residents said the victim was traveling along the Zongo–Rukubi road when he was intercepted and seized near the Ndor signpost. Security operatives were reportedly alerted and a rescue operation was launched, but the victim remained missing at the time of this report.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, had yet to confirm the incidents at the time of filing this report.