Security forces also rescued 13 kidnapped students in a separate operation as violence spreads across Benue State
BENUE STATE, Nigeria — Armed Fulani Ethnic Militia killed five Christian farmers on Saturday, defying a recent government crackdown on violent groups in the region.
The attack occurred in Tse‑Antieven village in Gwer‑West County, where residents said armed militants rode into the farming community on motorcycles and opened fire on villagers working in their fields. Local sources reported five deaths, though some media accounts placed the toll slightly lower, including a Daily Post report that four people were feared dead and several missing.
The killings came just days after Governor Hyacinth Alia ordered security agencies to dismantle armed militia camps across Benue’s forests, following a separate attack that left 10 people dead in Edikwu‑Ankpali community in Apa County. The directive, reported by Vanguard, called for the dislodgement of terrorist and herdsmen camps across Benue’s forests.
Deadly Assault in Gwer‑West
Residents described the assault as swift and coordinated. According to Damian Attah, a local resident and security analyst at Benue State University, dozens of armed Fulani militia arrived on motorcycles, surrounded the farmers, and opened fire.
“Five people, three men and two women, were killed on the spot, while several others were seriously injured and are receiving treatment. One person remains missing,” Attah told TruthNigeria.
The victims were identified as Orkulumi Afuluka, Iortim Michael, Atom Aper, Apaa Blessing, and Afuluka Happiness.
Attah also criticized the delayed response of nearby security forces. Military outposts are located within a few miles of the community, yet troops reportedly arrived only after the attackers had fled.
He added that insecurity has spread across much of Gwer‑West, with several districts now considered unsafe due to repeated attacks.
Victor Ormin, Chairman of Gwer‑West County, condemned the killings in an interview with TruthNigeria and called for urgent federal intervention.
“We are losing entire communities to these Fulani attackers. Our farmers can no longer access their land safely. We need sustained military presence and proactive operations, not just responses after lives have been lost,” Ormin said.
Kidnapped Students Rescued in Otukpo
In a separate development, security forces rescued the remaining 13 Christian students who were abducted earlier in the week at Taraku Junction along the Makurdi–Otukpo federal highway. Punch reported the operation, confirming the release of 13 remaining Benue kidnap victims.
The students were part of a group of 17 abducted on April 15 while traveling near Taraku Junction. Four had earlier escaped, according to TruthNigeria’s report on the abduction of 17 Christian students traveling for exams and police recruitment.
Authorities said the victims were held in Amla Forest camp in Otukpo County before a joint security operation led to their release. Seven suspected kidnappers were arrested during the raid, as reported by Daily Trust, which detailed the arrest of seven suspects and rescue of victims.
Police officials said the rescue followed a targeted search‑and‑rescue mission involving multiple security agencies. The kidnappers reportedly fled after a brief exchange of gunfire, abandoning the victims.
Williams Pablo, Commander of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, Otukpo Zonal Command, who participated in the operation, told TruthNigeria:
“When we advanced into the forest, the kidnappers engaged us briefly but retreated under pressure, leaving the victims behind.”
One of the rescued students, Jonah Elaigwu, recounted his ordeal to TruthNigeria.
“Our kidnappers were Fulani Militia; we heard them speaking Fulani language. Our hands were tied and we were denied water. They told us to drink our urine if we were thirsty. We were held in the forest until security forces came,” he said.
The Chairman of Otukpo County, Maxwell Ogiri, praised the operation but warned that more needs to be done to prevent future kidnappings.
“We are relieved these young people are safe, but this incident highlights serious security gaps along our highways,” he said. “We must intensify patrols and dismantle Fulani criminal hideouts to protect our citizens.”
Governor Appeals for Exam Rescheduling
Governor Hyacinth Alia received the rescued students at the Government House in Makurdi on Sunday and appealed to Nigeria’s university admissions board to reschedule their entrance examinations. Channels TV reported his request to reschedule UTME for the kidnapped candidates.
“I invite you to please reschedule their examinations,” he said. “The state government is ready to support them in every way possible.”
The students had been traveling for university entrance exams and a police recruitment exercise at the time of their abduction.
Growing Security Concerns
The twin incidents underscore the deepening security crisis in Benue and other Middle Belt states, where clashes between Christian farming communities and armed Muslim Fulani Ethnic Militia, as well as frequent kidnappings, have become increasingly common.
Benue lies in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, a region where conflicts between armed Fulani groups and Christian farmers have intensified over land disputes, resource pressures, and ethnic and religious divisions.
According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, armed Fulani militia groups have been linked to nearly 24,000 civilian deaths over a recent four‑year period, highlighting the scale of the violence. ORFA’s analysis details how Fulani militias became Nigeria’s deadliest group while escaping global notice.
Despite recent government directives aimed at dismantling armed camps, residents say attacks continue, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current security measures.
Local Christian leaders and residents are calling for stronger, sustained action to restore safety and allow displaced communities to return to their homes and farmlands.
