In a renewed wave of violence, suspected armed herdsmen have launched a deadly assault on a community in Benue State, resulting in multiple casualties and disappearances.
Attack Near Railway Line Claims Lives
The incident occurred on December 21, 2025, near the railway line in the Dudu area of Guma Local Government Area. According to reports, the attackers targeted the Mbamar community, killing two individuals on the spot. One of the deceased has been identified as Ortwer Tyonum, while the identity of the second victim is still awaiting official confirmation at this time.
Victims Were Displaced Persons Visiting Ancestral Home
Local sources indicate that the victims were part of a group of displaced persons who had returned to Mbamar to visit their family land. A resident, who spoke anonymously due to fear, provided a chilling account of the event.
"They were displaced persons who went to see their family land in Mbamar when the armed herders suddenly attacked them," the source stated. "Two of them were killed on the spot, some people managed to escape with injuries, while others are still missing as we speak."
The attack, which also left several people injured, underscores the persistent insecurity in the region. The bodies of the slain were later evacuated by grieving family members.
Residents Decry Absence of Security, Farmland Destruction
Community members have expressed deep frustration over the apparent lack of security presence, which they believe emboldens attackers. The same source lamented, "There is no security here. That is why these attacks keep happening. People are afraid to go to their farms or even visit their homes."
Further allegations from the area claim that herdsmen have destroyed farmlands not only in Mbamar and Dudu but also in surrounding villages, crippling livelihoods and deepening the humanitarian crisis.
This latest attack adds to a grim history of violence in Benue State. It recalls the tragic event on April 18, 2025 (Good Friday), when armed herdsmen killed at least 10 Christian worshippers in the Gbagir community of Ukum Local Government Area.
In a related development, a High Court in Maiduguri recently sentenced an 18-year-old herdsman, Adamu Mohammed, to death by hanging for killing 19-year-old Adamu Ali during a fight in Auno, Borno State. Justice Mohammed Maina ruled that the defendant's claim of self-defence could not absolve him of the crime.
