Tension has gripped parts of Benue State following a fresh attack on Akpete community in Apa Local Government Area, where at least two residents were killed and several others injured after gunmen suspected to be armed herders invaded the area.
The attack, which occurred on Friday evening, forced many residents to flee their homes amid panic and confusion. Local sources said the assailants initially entered the community around midday but were resisted by local youths, prompting a temporary retreat.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity recounted the sequence of events, noting that the attackers later returned in larger numbers.
“They first came around 12 noon, but our youths confronted them and they withdrew. Unfortunately, they returned around 6 pm in greater numbers and started moving from house to house. By then, most people had already run for safety,” the resident said.
According to the source, one of the victims was killed after briefly returning home to retrieve personal belongings. His motorcycle was reportedly set ablaze by the attackers. Another resident was said to have been killed during the second wave of the assault in a nearby location.
The deceased were identified by community members as Matthew Ochanga and Isaac Adanu. Several others reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries, while some residents remain unaccounted for.
Community members expressed frustration over repeated attacks in the area, lamenting that many villages have been deserted due to persistent insecurity.
“Our people can no longer go to their farms. Many communities have been abandoned. We feel helpless and fear they want to take over our ancestral land,” the resident added.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed receiving reports of an attack in the area, specifically at Edikwu Icho, also within Apa LGA, but maintained that security operatives responded swiftly to contain the situation.
In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, police said operatives from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were deployed to the affected community, successfully repelling the attackers.
“The attack was repelled through the efforts of operatives of the Benue State Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad. The general security situation in Apa Local Government Area remains calm,” the statement read.
The Command also disclosed that reconstruction work was ongoing on a bridge linking Ugbokpo, Idogbu, Ochumeku, and Ikobi communities, which had previously been destroyed during earlier attacks. The project, according to police, is being carried out under heavy security presence to prevent further disruption.
In a related development on the same day, police operatives intercepted a suspect allegedly transporting ammunition in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
DSP Edet revealed that the suspect, identified as Saamoga, also known as Aleki, was apprehended at Tse Dubem following intelligence reports that he was conveying live ammunition on a commercial motorcycle from Gbagir to Zaki-Biam.
“A search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of 117 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed inside socks within his handbag. Charms and a mobile phone were also recovered,” the statement added.
According to the police, the suspect sustained a gunshot injury while attempting to escape arrest and was rushed to the General Hospital in Zaki-Biam, where he later died while receiving treatment.
Preliminary investigations, the police said, indicated that the ammunition was being transported to Taraba State.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, commended officers involved in the operations for their swift response and professionalism. He reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to proactive and intelligence-driven policing aimed at curbing criminal activities across the state.
He also urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could aid crime prevention and detection.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in rural communities in Benue State, where repeated attacks have disrupted farming activities and displaced residents from their ancestral homes.
Community members continue to call for strengthened security presence and lasting solutions to prevent further loss of lives and property in the region.
While security agencies maintain that the situation is under control, residents say the fear of renewed attacks persists, especially in remote settlements where response time can be challenging.
As investigations continue and security patrols intensify, authorities have reiterated their resolve to safeguard lives and property while addressing the root causes of violence affecting communities across the state.
