Date: July 28, 2026
By Kimberly Wilson
MAKURDI, Nigeria — At least More than 15 people have been killed and scores of others injured after suspected armed herders launched coordinated attacks on communities in Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State. The attacks, which began in the early hours of Tuesday, have left residents devastated and prompted renewed calls for stronger security measures in one of Nigeria's most violence-prone regions.
According to local residents, the attackers stormed Efeyi-Ugboju at about 5:00 a.m., opening fire on villagers and operating in the community for more than four hours before fleeing. Survivors said the gunmen attacked with little resistance, forcing many residents to flee into nearby bushes while others were caught in the violence.
Residents reported that 14 people were killed in Efeyi-Ugboju, while other residents were killed a day earlier in nearby Ipom-Ugboju, bringing the confirmed death toll to at least 15. Community members fear the number could rise further as search efforts continue in surrounding forests and damaged homes.
A resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, described the incident as a massacre.
"The attackers stormed the community before dawn and continued killing people until after 9 a.m. Fourteen bodies have already been recovered in Efeyi-Ugboju, while another resident was killed in Ipom-Ugboju on Monday. We fear more bodies may still be found because many people remain unaccounted for," the resident said.
Several victims sustained serious injuries during the assault and were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. Medical personnel are reportedly treating survivors while local volunteers continue searching for missing residents believed to have fled into nearby bushes during the attack.
The latest violence comes just weeks after other deadly attacks in Otukpo communities, underscoring the worsening security situation in Benue State. Residents say repeated assaults have forced many families to abandon their homes and farmlands, increasing displacement and threatening agricultural activities in the region.
No group has officially claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack. However, residents blamed suspected armed herders, a term commonly used by local communities to describe attackers in the long-running farmer-herder conflict affecting parts of Nigeria's Middle Belt. Authorities had not publicly confirmed the identity of the attackers at the time of reporting.
Benue State has experienced repeated outbreaks of violence involving farming communities, armed groups, and suspected herders. The conflict, often driven by disputes over land, grazing routes, and other local factors, has claimed hundreds of lives in recent years and displaced thousands of residents.
Community leaders have again appealed to the Federal Government, Benue State authorities, and security agencies to deploy additional security personnel to vulnerable communities and intensify efforts to prevent further attacks. Many residents say they fear returning to their homes without stronger protection.
As of Tuesday afternoon, recovery operations were still ongoing, with volunteers and local residents searching for missing persons and assisting survivors. Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the attack while security patrols are intensified across affected communities.