Benue: Armed herdsmen ambush bus with passengers in Markudi, Naka road.

Fear gripped commuters on Sunday as suspected armed herdsmen ambushed a commercial bus on the Makurdi–Naka highway and abducted all passengers on board.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle, which left Makurdi for Naka, was intercepted before it reached its destination.

The attackers reportedly marched the passengers into nearby bushes at gunpoint.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Edet Udeme, said she had not yet received any report of the incident and would confirm the situation and provide updates.

Protest against armed herders attacks: Benue people shun beef, turn to pork.

There seem to be a silent revolution against the consumption of beef, popularly called “cow meat” in Benue at the moment.

Before now Benue was known for the large scale consumption of beef in this part of the country; however, strong indications at the moment suggests otherwise.

The people have turned their backs to beef consumption and decended on pork which though a delicacy for the people, cannot be compared to the level they devoured beef.

The resort to pork has suddenly forced the price of life pig out of the reach of the few that hitherto consume it, while butchers of pig who sell to consumers have taken advantage of the of the new development to hike the price of the delicacy.

With the development an average size of pork which hitherto sold for N10,000 now goes for as high as N35,000, a development that has forced many to seek alternative sources of protein.

Meanwhile, findings indicated that the development may not be unconnected to ceaseless attacks and killings in the state by armed herdsmen who have continue to unleash mayhem on several communities of the state.

It was gathered that not a few indigenes of the state have stopped eating beef probably in protect over the activities of armed herdsmen in the state.

This was much alluded to by a renowned pig butcher on the popular Ishaya Bakut road, Mr. Jonathan Aer, who blamed the surge in the price of pork on the level of patronage the delicacy now enjoys from majority of the people of the state.

He pointed out that the flow of customers is almost overwhelming the butchers, adding that the situation would have got out of hand but for the price that now serve as a check on the exploding patronage.

JUST IN: Farmer allegedly beheaded as fresh attack hits Benue community.

A farmer simply identified as Gabriel Vandefan has been killed by suspected armed herdsmen who attacked the Uikpam community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the attackers had beheaded Vandefan, a former on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

The farmer was said to have been killed when he went to his farm on Thursday morning to harvest his millet.

The armed herders were said to have invaded the community and attacked unsuspecting farmers in Uikpam.

According to Jim Geoffrey, a former aide to Samuel Ortom, the ex-governor of Benue State, the killers also cut off the victim’s hand and went away with it.

Geoffrey said the attackers “also beheaded the victim and also cut off one of his hands and took it away”.

This recent attack in Benue comes barely weeks after over a hundred people were killed by suspected armed herdsmen in the Yelewata area of the state.

The killing of residents in different communities in Yelewata caused outrage which also forced the president to visit Makurdi Benue State.

Man mobbed for denying herdsmen attack on Benue community.

A man identified as Mr. Zape Upaa was reportedly attacked by angry residents of Ukpiam community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State for allegedly attempting to downplay a deadly attack by armed herdsmen.

Sources said Zape was confronted and beaten while trying to record videos aimed at discrediting reports of the overnight attack that left the community shaken.

The villagers, who were still reeling from the violence, reportedly descended on him in anger.

Pictorial evidence circulating online shows Zape with visible injuries, confirming the assault.

Witnesses say the incident occurred in broad daylight, drawing the attention of other residents.

“He was trying to do a video to say nothing happened here. People got angry and attacked him,” one local said.

Ukpiam, like many other communities in Benue, has suffered repeated attacks from suspected armed herders, prompting calls for increased security presence in the area.

Upaa was rescued by well meaning local rushed to a Makurdi hospital for treatment of injuries sustained from the attack.

Tension In Edo As Youths Protest Killings, Kidnappings Under Okpebholo’s.

Residents of Agenebode, the headquarters of Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, trooped out on Monday to protest against what they described as daily killings and kidnappings allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen in their communities.

Naija News understands that the protest grounded commercial activities in the communities as the youths asked Governor Monday Okpebholo to act swiftly.

on the state leader and federal lawmakers to urgently intervene to halt what they termed an “ongoing ethnic cleansing.”

Shops, stalls, and businesses were shut down as residents joined the youth in a show of solidarity.

Some of the placards targeted top political figures from the area, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Minister Abubakar Momoh, and Hon. Sunday Dekere Anamero, accusing them of turning a blind eye while their people suffer.

“Oshiomhole, you’re busy in Port Harcourt with NDDC while your people are dying in Etsako East!” one placard read.

Naija News learnt that the protest, which began in the early hours of Monday, saw peaceful processions through Agenebode Market Road, Bode Ivioghe Road, and the Local Government Secretariat. Protesters sang, chanted, and demanded immediate government intervention to restore security.

In an unusual turn, local government workers were forced to vacate their offices at the Secretariat and join the demonstration, citing fears of being the next victims.

“We can no longer go to work with peace of mind. The fear of being kidnapped is real,” one council staff member told reporters.

Tension in Makurdi as armed herdsmen open fire on security operatives.

Tension flared in Ancha Village, near the Agan Toll Gate in the Agan Council Ward of Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State, on Friday, after suspected armed herdsmen reportedly ambushed security personnel responding to distress calls from locals..

Eyewitnesses say the incident began when residents noticed a group of herders grazing cattle on cultivated farmland behind the village and immediately alerted security forces to the encroachment.

However, on reaching the area, the operatives reportedly came under sudden and heavy gunfire from the armed herders, sparking a fierce shootout. The situation caused panic among villagers, many of whom fled into nearby bushes for safety.

As of the time of filing this report, the extent of casualties or arrests remains unclear, but reinforcements were said to have been deployed to the area to forestall further violence and secure the community.

HERDSMEN LAUNCH ATTACK ON FORMER BENUE GOVERNOR, SAMUEL ORTOM'S VILLAGE.

Two farmers, Nensha Adeor and Kator Gbenge, have sustained serious injuries following an attack by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen in Adeor settlement, Ndzorov Council Ward, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attack occurred in the hometown of former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

According to local sources, the incident happened when the victims attempted to stop the herders from allowing their cattle to graze on and destroy their farmland.

The herdsmen, reportedly armed with machetes, launched a violent assault, leaving both men with deep cuts.

Medical personnel at the General Hospital in Gbajimba said the victims are in critical condition.

DAILY POST recalls that another farmer in the area was abducted three days ago by suspected armed herdsmen and remains in captivity.

As of the time of filing this report, no contact or ransom demand has been made.

Residents of the community have raised the alarm, calling on security agencies and the state government to intervene urgently and strengthen security in Ndzorov.

Benue killings failure of leadership, stain on our conscience Peter Obi.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has blamed the killing of over 200 persons in Benue State by suspected armed herdsmen on the failure of government, describing the sordid affair as a stain on our collective conscience.

The Ex-Anambra State Governor said, “My heart is heavy as I learn of yet another horrific series of killings in Benue of women, children, soldiers, and displaced persons, all senselessly slain. This tragedy has become too common in our national life, and the Benue situation now calls for a national emergency.

“Over 200 lives have reportedly been extinguished in a single onslaught, homes burnt, families shattered, and communities left in ruin.

POLICE FIRES TEARGAS AT PROTESTERS OVER YELEWATA KILLING

Men of the Nigeria Police on Sunday fired teargas to disperse a crowd of angry protesters demonstrating against the brutal killing of over 200 residents in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area.

The protesters, dressed in black and wielding placards, had taken to the streets to demand justice and immediate action from the state and federal governments.

Their chants filled the air with grief and outrage, as they called for an end to the unrelenting attacks by suspected armed herdsmen.

The peaceful demonstration, however, turned chaotic when security forces arrived at the scene and fired teargas canisters to break up the crowd.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as protesters scattered for safety, with some reportedly injured in the ensuing stampede.

The Bloody Silence: Herdsmen Killings in Benue and the Government’s Inaction

Benue State is fast becoming a land soaked in blood—a place where innocent lives are lost in endless cycles of violence. Week after week, horrifying reports emerge: villages set ablaze, entire families wiped out, and farms—the lifeline of the people—reduced to ashes.

The attackers? Armed herdsmen, striking with growing boldness and brutality.
The victims? Ordinary Nigerians, mostly defenseless farmers.
The response from the government? Deafening silence.

Why is this carnage allowed to continue?
Who is protecting the killers?
And most importantly—why has the government done nothing to stop it?

MANY FEARED DEAD AS SUSPECTED HERDSMEN STRIKE YELEWATA, BENUE STATE.

Tragedy struck Yelewata on Friday night as suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly attack around 10:00 pm, leaving several people dead and many others injured.

According to early reports received around 4:00 am Saturday, at least 16 individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries in the assault.

The exact number of fatalities is yet to be confirmed, as authorities continue to gather information from the scene.

In response to a distress call, operatives of the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) moved to the area but were ambushed in Daudu while en route.

The ambush resulted in the tragic death of two soldiers and one Civil Defence officer.

“These brave men paid the ultimate price in service to our people. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” a community source stated, mourning the fallen security operatives.

Survivors of the attack are currently receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi. Medical personnel have made an urgent appeal for blood donations to save the lives of the injured.

Citizens and humanitarian organizations have been urged to provide immediate support to the victims, especially through blood donations and medical assistance.

“My heartfelt condolences go to the families of the victims, especially our fallen heroes in uniform,” said a concerned resident, who also refrained from sharing graphic images from the scene out of respect for the victims and community standards.

Urgent Call: South-East Governors Must Halt Land Allocations to Armed Herdsmen and Jihadist Elements

A recent report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has raised alarms over the occupation of approximately 950 locations across the South-East region by armed herdsmen and jihadist groups. These areas, predominantly forests, have become operational bases for criminal activities, including kidnapping and violence against local communities. 

The report implicates certain state authorities in facilitating this occupation by issuing land certificates to these groups, allegedly in exchange for political support. This practice has been linked to the increasing insecurity and displacement of indigenous populations in the region.

Intersociety’s findings indicate that about 40% of the 1,940 communities in the South-East are under significant threat from these groups. The organization urges immediate action from state governments to revoke any land allocations made to armed herdsmen and to implement stringent security measures to protect the affected communities. 

#SecureSouthEast #StopLandAllocations

Edo Community Bans Beef Sales Amid Rising Insecurity

In a bold move to protest escalating violence, residents of Elelu village in Erah community, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, have banned the sale and consumption of beef. This decision comes in response to a series of kidnappings and killings allegedly perpetrated by suspected herdsmen. 

During a recent protest, community members, including elders, youths, and vigilante leaders, expressed their anguish over the loss of lives and the disruption of their livelihoods. They reported that in the past two weeks alone, seven individuals had been kidnapped and killed, with one person still in captivity. The protesters threatened to relocate to the Edo State Government House if immediate action is not taken to address the security challenges. 

Fred Enaikhe Aleburu, a community spokesperson, highlighted the sacrifices made by local defenders, stating, “These courageous men stood against armed herdsmen who had brought terror to the peaceful land. They shielded our mothers, our children, and our farmlands and for their sacrifice, they were murdered in cold blood.” 

The community’s demands include the establishment of permanent security checkpoints, a comprehensive flushing of forests to eliminate terrorist elements, and emergency interventions to address food insecurity. They also called for sustained security presence to ensure long-term peace and protection. 

By banning beef, the residents aim to sever economic ties with those they believe are responsible for their suffering, sending a clear message that their lives and safety are non-negotiable.


#EdoCommunityProtest
#BanOnBeef
#SecurityInEdo
#StandAgainstViolence