MAKURDI – A peaceful morning of labor turned into a gruesome scene of carnage on Friday as suspected Fulani herdsmen opened fire on villagers in the Ojantele community of Apa Local Government Area, leaving at least 15 farmers dead.
The victims, predominantly women and youths from the neighboring Asaba and Akpete settlements, had ventured into the cashew plantations early Friday morning to harvest nuts washed down by a heavy overnight rain. They were reportedly cornered by the attackers, who were said to be trailing a massive herd of cattle through the area.
Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene of cold-blooded execution. “They didn’t come to graze; they came to kill,” said a local youth leader who helped recover some of the remains. “People were bent over picking nuts when the shooting started from the thickets. We have recovered 15 bodies so far, but the bush is vast, and many who ran are still missing.”
While local community leaders maintain a death toll of 15, the Benue State Police Command has officially confirmed six fatalities as of Saturday morning. State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, stated that 11 other victims—suffering from various degrees of gunshot wounds—are currently battling for their lives at a hospital in Ugbokpo, the local government headquarters.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has slammed the “senseless and cowardly” ambush, describing it as a direct hit on the state’s soul. In a stinging statement, the Governor expressed deep sorrow and ordered an immediate manhunt for the killers.
“This is a heartbreaking attack on hardworking citizens who were merely seeking their daily bread,” the Governor said. “We will not fold our arms while our people are slaughtered like animals on their ancestral lands. The security agencies have been briefed to smoke them out.”
A joint task force of Police, Military, and local vigilantes has since been deployed to the surrounding forests to track the assailants and rescue those still unaccounted for.
The Chairman of Apa LGA, Adams Ochega, confirmed the incident, noting he is awaiting a full operational briefing from the ground commanders. This latest massacre has sent shockwaves through Benue’s “food basket” belt, sparking fresh fears that farmers may abandon their crops entirely as the new planting season looms.
