Suspected Herders Attáck Benue Market, Kïll 17

An assault by suspected armed herdsmen on a rural market in Benue State has left at least 17 people dead, including a Mobile Police officer.

The attack took place in Abande settlement, within Kwande Local Government Area, on a busy market day as people were engaged in trade. Eyewitnesses reported that gunmen invaded the area, firing indiscriminately, looting shops of goods worth millions of naira, and setting fire to market stalls, homes, and other buildings, prompting a mass exodus of residents into nearby forests.

The Benue State Police Command acknowledged the incident in a statement from Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Emenari. The police confirmed that five people were killed—including the officer and four civilians—stating that “suspected armed herder bandits” targeted both civilians and police. However, local sources and ongoing search efforts indicate the death toll has risen to 17.

Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings, labeling the attack a “cowardly act of terror” against innocent citizens. He has ordered an immediate manhunt for the perpetrators and directed security agencies to ensure they face justice.

This violence is the latest in a series of attacks in Benue State, a hotspot in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where persistent clashes related to farmer-herder conflicts and broader insecurity continue to result in loss of life.