At least 42 people, including a Mobile Police Officer, have been confirmed dead following a series of coordinated attacks by suspected herdsmen on four communities in Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
The violent assaults, which began on Saturday evening, May 24, 2025, have plunged the region into chaos, leaving dozens wounded and prompting mass displacement as residents flee for safety.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attacks started around 5:00 p.m. in Aondona community and later spread to Ahume, Tse-Orbiam, and even the military base near Tse-Orbiam, continuing into the early hours of Sunday morning.
A resident, Agatha, recounted the carnage, telling Daily Sun that women and children, including toddlers, were among the victims.
“They killed over 20 people in Aondona alone, including a mobile police officer. It’s a massacre. People are fleeing. The roads, especially around Naka, are no longer safe,” she said.
Another witness, Terser Tyona, described a weekend of terror, listing multiple fatalities across the affected communities:
“Ten people were slaughtered in Ahume, five in Tyolaha, and seven in Tse-Orbiam. It was a killing spree.”
The violence also claimed the safety of clergy, as Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo was reportedly shot along the Naka-Makurdi road. Two other individuals were also abducted near a nearby military base.
Local Government Chairman Speaks Out: “This is Genocide”
Confirming the attacks, Victor Ormin, Chairman of Gwer West LGA, described the situation as nothing short of genocide.
“Yes, it happened, and it is still happening. It’s pathetic. As I speak to you now, we are still recovering corpses. We have counted over 40 dead bodies so far,” Ormin stated during a press briefing on Monday, May 26.
According to Ormin, the first attack in Aondona began around 5 p.m. on Saturday and lasted through the night, followed by a predawn assault on Ahume around 4 a.m. Sunday. Another attack occurred in Tse-Orbiam, just three kilometers from a military checkpoint, he said.
The LGA chairman also emotionally described burying multiple victims, including entire families:
“I buried five people myself yesterday. This cannot continue.”
Military Presence, But No Action
Shockingly, Ormin revealed that despite the presence of military personnel in the area, no meaningful response was initiated due to a lack of federal authorization.
“The soldiers say they do not have the mandate to engage unless fired upon. They said not even the governor can give that order only the President,” he lamented.
While acknowledging the professionalism of the military officers stationed there, Ormin expressed deep frustration that their hands were tied.
Chairman Threatens Resignation Amid Federal Inaction
In a now-viral video making rounds on social media, Ormin broke down emotionally, questioning why the federal government has remained indifferent.
“So my people should all die before the federal government will act?” he asked, fighting back tears.
The chairman went further to express his willingness to resign, saying there’s no point holding office when those he governs are being slaughtered.
“If the government cannot help, I will step down. I can’t keep being chairman while my people are wiped out.”
Residents Abandon Communities
The escalating attacks have forced mass evacuations, with residents abandoning their homes and farmlands. Key routes, especially Naka road, have become impassable due to fear of ambushes.
This latest wave of violence adds to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Benue State and again highlights the federal government’s ongoing struggle to address persistent insecurity in the Middle Belt.
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