Suspected attack by armed herdsmen in Benue State leaves more than 15 dead

• A violent attack by suspected armed herdsmen claimed over fifteen lives in Anyiin, Benue State as dozens of assailants stormed the town
• The brutal attack left several injured and others missing, drawing renewed attention to the escalating violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region
• Eyewitnesses described the terror as armed invaders entered the town during a nearly three-hour siege of homes and families in the community.

A new wave of violence hit Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state Wednesday when suspected armed herdsmen launched an attack that left more than 15 people dead, several injured and scores of others missing.

The incident, which occurred at about 6:32 p.m., has once again drawn attention to the escalating violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.

Witnesses report that 20 armed individuals stormed the city and unleashed terror on its residents in an attack that lasted nearly three hours.

Herders’ attack claims fifteen lives

The attackers attacked houses leaving a trail of destruction in the community which is also the home of the former Governor of Benue State. Gabriel Suswam.

Community leader Joseph Anawah, who shared details of the attack on Thursday, described the harrowing ordeal that befell Anyiin.

He said:

“Fulani militia terrorists yesterday, Wednesday, October 30, 2024, unleashed terror on Anyiin Logo LGA town of Benue State in an operation that started at about 6:32 pm, leaving over 15 people dead and some with varying degrees of injuries, while others went missing became.”

The confirmed dead include Orihundu Ati, a retired primary school supervisor, and several young men closely associated with prominent local families, including the son of Mbawuave’s related chief, Zaki Mbatern, and the son of Mr Uyange Chembe , brother of the late Ukemberagya District Head, Zaki John Chembe.

The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene confirmed that she had not received an official report on the incident at the time of this report.

However, Colonel Alex Igbaya (retd.), the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Foreign Affairs, confirmed that military personnel have already been deployed to restore order in the affected area.

Herdsmen attack in Nigeria

Shepherds attack Nigeria pose a growing security problem, especially in the Middle Belt and northern regions of the country.

These violent incidents often involve armed groups, often associated with nomadic herders, clashing with local farming communities over resources such as land and water.

Drought, desertification and population growth have intensified competition for these resources, leading to increased tensions and, in many cases, deadly violence.

The conflict has displaced thousands of people, strained community relations and placed enormous pressure on state and federal authorities to enhance security and address underlying socio-economic and environmental factors.

Suspected herdsmen kill 9 men

In the meantime, Legit.ng previously reported that this was suspected shepherds would have been killed not less than 12 persons on Sunday evening, June 13 in Kushe Community and Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area Plateau stands.

The killing took place at around 9:30 pm when the suspected herdsmen stormed the community and shot sporadically.

Source: Legit.ng