Reprisal Attack In Benue: Three Killed As Herders Retaliate Over Murdered Fulani Youth
By TOSI ORE
THREE people have been killed and one declared missing after suspected herders launched a reprisal attack on Anwule community in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday.
The assault, according to local sources, was in retaliation for the alleged murder of a young Fulani herder by some villagers in late August.
Security officials said the violence began when the herder was reportedly attacked and killed after his cattle were accused of grazing on farmlands. His body was never recovered, a development that heightened tensions between the two sides.
“They attacked the cattle, and in the process, the young boy herding them was killed. His body has still not been found. That incident changed everything,” a security source indicated.
In the weeks that followed, unease gripped the area. Villagers kept night watches fearing retaliation, while herders reportedly carried out an extensive search for the missing youth.
The fragile calm shattered again on Monday when another clash erupted between some villagers and herders, leading to the death of another Fulani herder and the killing of several cattle.
“That second attack was the tipping point. Once another life was lost, everyone knew a reprisal was almost certain,” another security source said.
By Tuesday evening, suspected herders stormed Anwule village, firing sporadically and setting homes ablaze. When the violence subsided, three villagers — identified as Simon Nbach (a pastor with Flaming Fire Ministry), Adoya Ejigai, and Ejeh Loko — were confirmed dead, while one resident remained missing.
Troops from the Army Forward Operating Base, Otukpo, later responded to distress calls and assisted in evacuating the dead and wounded.
The attack has forced residents to flee to nearby settlements, abandoning their farms and homes amid fears of further assaults.
In response, senior government officials, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr. Joseph Har, and the Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Mr. Gabriel Adole, visited the community to appeal for calm.
“We understand the grief and fear, but peace must be maintained. Security agencies are already on the trail of the perpetrators,” Har assured the residents.
Authorities say surveillance has been intensified across the area to prevent further escalation.
