…several persons missing
The fragile peace in Benue State was shattered yet again last night when suspected Fulani herdsmen launched a violent assault on Mbasombo, a community in Gwer East Local Government Area, just seven minutes’ drive from Makurdi, the state capital. The attack, which reportedly began late into the night, has left at least three people dead, with several others feared missing or possibly killed.
Eyewitnesses and survivors described a horrifying scene as heavily armed assailants stormed the village under the cover of darkness, opening fire indiscriminately and setting houses on fire. The attack sent waves of panic throughout the community, with many residents fleeing into surrounding bushes and nearby villages.
“We were already asleep when we heard gunshots coming from the direction of the farmlands,” recounted Mr. Tersoo Ikyernum, a farmer and resident of Mbasombo. “At first, we thought it might be thieves, but then the shooting became intense. We ran with our children, some without shoes, into the night. I have not seen my younger brother since then.”
The dead have so far been identified as local farmers who were at home during the attack. According to residents, the casualty figure could be higher, as many villagers remain missing and others are reportedly injured, receiving treatment in makeshift shelters and nearby clinics.
“This is a massacre, not just an attack,” said Ms. Iveren Nyikwagh, a youth leader in the area. “We are just seven minutes from Makurdi, the state capital. If we are not safe here, where are we supposed to be safe?”
Mbasombo, situated along the outskirts of Makurdi, is known for its farming communities and growing population. Its proximity to the state capital has made last night’s attack even more alarming for both residents and authorities.
“This is not some remote village hidden in the hinterlands. This happened right at the doorstep of the capital,” said Chief Dominic Shima, a local traditional leader. “If this can happen here, then it means nowhere is safe in Benue anymore.”
Residents criticized the lack of immediate response from security agencies, despite the nearness to major military and police formations in Makurdi. Many expressed anger that such a deadly attack could go unchecked for hours.
“The gunshots lasted for more than an hour. Where were the police? Where were the soldiers? We are tired of dying in silence,” said Mrs. Patience Ukeyima, a widow who lost her son in the attack.
Local vigilante groups attempted to repel the attackers but were overwhelmed by the superior firepower and number of the assailants. The attackers reportedly retreated before dawn, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
As of this morning, the Benue State Police Command had not issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, sources within the command revealed that a team had been dispatched to Mbasombo to assess the situation and begin preliminary investigations.
The attack has sparked fresh outrage across the state, with civil society organizations and community leaders calling on the federal government to act decisively to end the persistent herdsmen attacks in Benue.
“This is genocide, and we can no longer sugarcoat it,” said Rev. Abraham Iorliam, a spokesperson for the Benue Coalition for Peace and Justice. “Our people are being targeted, slaughtered, and displaced daily. The silence of the government is complicity.”
Gwer East LGA, which includes several agrarian communities like Mbasombo, has experienced multiple waves of violence over the years, with clashes between herders and farmers often resulting in mass casualties and displacement.
Residents are now demanding not just justice, but proactive steps to prevent future attacks—including deployment of security forces, construction of security outposts, and the establishment of permanent IDP camps for those displaced.
As night falls once again over Mbasombo, the village remains largely deserted, with grieving families mourning their loved ones and searching for the missing. The fear is tangible, and the silence is heavy, as the people await a response—not just from security forces, but from a government they say has failed to protect them.
The tragedy of Mbasombo is not just a local issue; it is a national one—an indictment of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, and a reminder of how close violence has come to the very heart of Benue.
©Citizens Television
