Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly killed four people and injured several others in a late-night attack on Abaushwa community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, north-central Nigeria.
The assault, which occurred around midnight on Monday, targeted Abaushwa, the hometown of former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom. According to residents, the attackers stormed the community while families were asleep, breaking into homes and attacking occupants.
Local sources said three people were killed during the initial invasion, while several others sustained injuries. The wounded were rushed to the General Hospital in Gbajimba for treatment, where one of the victims later died, bringing the confirmed death toll to four. Community members also reported that several residents remain missing as search efforts continue.
Former Executive Secretary of the Benue State Teaching Service Board, Dr. Frank Kyungun, who visited the affected community alongside former Governor Ortom and other local leaders, condemned the attack as a senseless act of violence against innocent civilians.
Kyungun said residents had made efforts over the years to avoid conflict, including refraining from trading beef in local markets despite repeated complaints about damage to farmlands caused by grazing cattle. He described the latest killings as tragic and called for justice for the victims.
The Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Morris Orwough, also denounced the attack, describing it as heartbreaking and unacceptable. He extended condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
According to the council chairman, security personnel have been deployed to the community to restore calm, protect residents and prevent further violence. He urged members of the public to remain peaceful and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could help identify those responsible.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that four people were killed during the attack. Police spokesperson DSP Peter Aondona said investigations are ongoing and assured that security operatives are intensifying efforts to track down and arrest those behind the assault.
Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks linked to armed groups in recent years, with many communities experiencing displacement, loss of lives and destruction of property. The latest violence is expected to renew calls for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable rural communities across the state.
