13 Killed in Benue Community by Suspected Herdsmen Attack

On July 28, 2026, suspected armed herdsmen attacked Efeyi community in the Ugboju district of Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 individuals and leaving several others missing. The attackers reportedly fired indiscriminately, causing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.

By the time of reporting, 13 bodies had been recovered, and search efforts were ongoing for those unaccounted for. The incident led to protests, with angry youths carrying the victims' corpses to the district head's palace, demanding urgent measures to address the ongoing violence.

Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident and stated that officers were deployed to restore calm and investigate the attack. Governor Hyacinth Alia expressed deep sadness over the killings and vowed that the perpetrators would face justice.

He commended the police's swift response, which resulted in the neutralization of two suspected bandits during a gun battle.