Suspected Herdsmen Kill 33 in Coordinated Benue Attacks

At least 33 people have been killed in coordinated attacks by suspected herdsmen on communities in Benue State's Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas, with many others missing and displaced. The attacks occurred late Sunday, particularly devastating Tse-Antswam in Naka town, where 17 people were killed despite the proximity of a military checkpoint that reportedly did not respond. In Apa LGA, 16 deaths were reported in Edikwu and Ankpali communities, intensifying the ongoing violence linked to conflicts between local farmers and herders over land and water resources. Residents sheltering in local schools are guarded by police and vigilantes, but frustration remains over the lack of adequate security response. These attacks come amid a broader security crisis, including the recent abduction of 14 female traders traveling on Owukpa road, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated government and military intervention. The situation reflects longstanding tensions in the region where herders, predominantly of Fulani origin, and farmers dispute land use rights dating back decades.