Again, herders kill 7 in Benue communities, others missing

•Gwer West LG restricts movement to 6:30pm

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

There is tension in Benue State as armed herdsmen have continued their onslaught on Benue residents, killing seven persons in two Local Government Areas (LGAs), of the state.

Our correspondent gathered that two persons were killed along Naka-Makurdi road yesterday, while five dead bodies have  been recovered in an attack on a community in Buruku LGA on the  same day.

Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Victor Ormin, who confirmed the killings, said the two people were killed  yesterday, along Naka-Makurdi while going about their businesses.

Ormin has, therefore, directed that movement of people into and out of the geographical territory of Gwer West LGA, should not exceed 6: 30pm, saying,” the directive takes immediate effect.”

In  a statement signed by Ormin’s  Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Timothy Ajieje said,”With this directive, people coming into Gwer West LGA and those going out to other places are to do so within the stipulated time of 6:30pm.

“This restriction will be reviewed as the security situation improves,” he added. 

In Buruku LGA, a residents, who didn’t want to be named, for fear of victimisation, told newsmen that in the early hours of yesterday,May 12 2025, armed herdsmen launched a deadly attack on Mbakundu Community in Mbaya Council Ward of Buruku LGA of the state, killing several innocent villagers.

The local said the attackers stormed the community at exactly 12 am, shooting indiscriminately and killing everything in sight.

At the time of filing this report, locals said five dead bodies, including that of a child, have already been discovered, while the search for missing persons were still ongoing.

The Chairman of Buruku LGA, Mr Raymond Aondoakura confirmed the incident,saying, “Yes, they killed four young men and one little girl. So far, five bodies have  been discovered and deposited in the mortuary.”

Director General, Benue State Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan, said he had no details as he was just hearing the news.