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It breaks my heart to report yet another violent attack in Benue State—this time leaving 17 innocent people dead.
According to a statement released by the Benue State Police Command, the deadly incident occurred between Thursday, April 17, and the early hours of Friday, April 18, 2025. Suspected armed herders reportedly stormed two local government areas—Logo and Ukum—killing unsuspecting residents, most of whom were local farmers.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Sewuese Anene, confirmed the attacks in an official release. She explained that a group of armed militia invaded the Sankera axis of Benue State, particularly targeting the Gbagir area of Ukum LGA and parts of Katsina-Ala in Logo.
According to her, the attack started around 9:00 PM on Thursday night, and the command immediately swung into action. The Commissioner of Police, CP Steve H. Yabanet, ordered tactical teams to move in and assist the officers on ground. They teamed up with other security operatives to repel the attackers.
But sadly, before help could fully reach the affected communities, the damage had already been done.
“Five victims were found in Gbagir and rushed to a hospital, but they didn’t survive. Before police could get to Logo, another 12 persons had already been killed,” Anene said. That brought the death toll to 17 persons.
The sad reality is that most of the victims were ordinary farmers who had no idea what was coming. They were just trying to make ends meet, feed their families, and survive in today’s Nigeria.
Anene also mentioned that the armed group retreated into nearby forests bordering the Taraba axis, but security forces were still pursuing them.
What’s even more concerning is the growing rate of misinformation being spread on social media. The Commissioner of Police, CP Hassan Yabanet, has warned bloggers and individuals to avoid sharing unverified stories that can incite panic or cause further tension in the already-troubled communities.
Let’s be honest: this is not the first time this is happening in Benue. These are real people—our fellow Nigerians—who are being killed in their own villages like animals. The question now is: How many more lives must we lose before serious action is taken?
The police say they are on top of the situation and have urged the people of Sankera to remain calm and continue cooperating with security forces. But how do you stay calm when your people are being buried every week?
As someone who believes in the power of prayer, I also encourage everyone reading this to keep Benue in their prayers. And if you’re from the affected communities, please stay safe, remain alert, and report any suspicious movements around you.
Enough is enough.
