Herdsmen Attack Benue’s Akpete Community, Two Dead

Two Dead in Benue Community Attack as Police Intercept Ammunition Shipment

At least two people were killed in a fresh attack on Akpete community, Apa Local Government Area, Benue State, on Friday evening, marking another surge in violence amid Nigeria’s ongoing conflict over land and resources. The assault, carried out by suspected armed herdsmen, also left multiple residents injured and others unaccounted for, triggering a mass exodus from the village.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers first approached the community around midday but were temporarily repelled by local youth. A second wave, launched at approximately 6 p.m. with a larger contingent, saw assailants moving from house to house in search of targets. By then, most villagers had fled. A resident, Matthew Ochanga, was reportedly shot and killed after returning home to collect belongings; his motorcycle was also torched. Another resident, Isaac Adanu, died in a nearby location during the same attack. Several others sustained serious injuries.

The tragedy underscores deepening anxieties in rural Benue, where persistent raids have depopulated numerous villages and disrupted farming. “The truth is that we are tired of these attacks. Many of our villages have been deserted. They want to take over our ancestral land,” one resident said, highlighting the agricultural collapse and humanitarian strain caused by the insecurity.

In response, the Benue State Police Command confirmed deployment of its Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to Akpete and stated the situation was contained. “The attack was repelled through the efforts of operatives of the Benue State Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad. The general security situation in Apa Local Government Area remains calm,” a police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, said in a statement. The command also noted that reconstruction of a key bridge—previously destroyed by suspected herdsmen and linking several Apa communities—is underway under heavy security.

Separately, on the same Friday, police intercepted a ammunition shipment in Ukum Local Government Area. A suspect, identified as Saamoga (alias Aleki), was arrested at Tse Dubem while concealing 117 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition in his handbag, along with charms and a mobile phone. The suspect, who allegedly attempted to flee and was shot, later died in hospital. Preliminary findings suggested the weapons were destined for Taraba State.

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, commended officers for their professionalism and reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing. He urged the public to provide timely, credible information to support crime prevention efforts.

The twin incidents reflect persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where cycles of violence between farming communities and herders continue to exact a deadly toll on lives and livelihoods.