By Palang Paul
At least nine people have reportedly been killed, several injured and others declared missing after suspected armed herdsmen attacked communities in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attacks targeted Tse-Nyaku, Tse-Biliji and neighbouring communities in Mbatian Council Ward, Ngenev, at about 11pm on Friday, October 9, 2026, forcing residents to flee their homes.
A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Journalists that nine bodies had been recovered from the affected communities, while the whereabouts of several residents remained unknown.
The source said the attackers arrived in large numbers and opened fire, prompting residents to flee for safety.
“Many people managed to escape, except for the nine who have been confirmed dead for now because their corpses have been recovered,” the source said.
The source added that the death toll could rise because some residents had yet to be accounted for, although it was unclear whether they had been killed or escaped to neighbouring communities.
The attacks reportedly left the affected communities deserted, with residents expressing fears over the deteriorating security situation in the Sankera axis of Benue State.
Reacting to the incident, Livinus Tyodoo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ukum I (Ngenev) State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, condemned the attacks, describing them as “one attack too many.”
In a statement he personally signed, Tyodoo said the killings, displacement and reported injuries underscored the urgent need for coordinated security measures to protect vulnerable communities.
He urged the Benue State Government, Ukum Local Government Council and relevant security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, increase security deployments and ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Tyodoo also called for measures to enable displaced residents to return to their homes and farms without fear of further attacks.
“This is not the time for politics or the exchange of blame. It is a time for urgent, coordinated and decisive action,” he said.
He expressed condolences to the families of those reportedly killed and called for efforts to locate missing residents and provide medical care to the injured.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State, DSP Peter Aondongu, said he had yet to receive an official report on the incident when contacted.
The reported casualty figures and circumstances of the attacks had not been independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
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