Fresh Attack in Benue Leaves 27 Dead Near Military Base, Community Leader Questions Presence of Security Personnel

A fresh wave of violence has struck Benue State after heavily armed men suspected to be killer herdsmen attacked Jato-Aka, Mbachon and Tse-Yough settlements in Yaav council ward of Kwande Local Government Area, leaving about 27 people dead and several others injured.
Those wounded are currently receiving treatment at an unidentified hospital in Jato-Aka, though details about their condition remain unclear.

The President General of the Kwande United People’s Organisation (KWUPO), Simon Aloko Nachi, disclosed this while reacting to the attacks on the communities. He also revealed that some residents remain missing, raising fears that the death toll could increase.
The incident comes barely nine months after the massacre in Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of the state, where armed herdsmen killed more than 200 people, including entire families, many of them in their sleep. The incident attracted international attention and prompted a visit by President Bola Tinubu, alongside condemnation from the United States and other international actors.
Nachi expressed concern over the repeated attacks in the area despite the presence of armed security personnel deployed to protect residents.
He also condemned simultaneous attacks on River Jam and Mbaikyo Mbachon communities in Yaav ward, noting that women and children were among those killed.
Describing the development as a grave betrayal by those tasked with protecting lives, the community leader questioned the role of security personnel stationed in the area.
“Not a single shot was fired in defence of our people. Not one attacker was stopped,” he said.
“We must ask: what exactly are these security personnel doing there? Who sent them? And whose lives are they protecting?”
Clearly frustrated by the situation, Nachi called on Governor Hyacinth Alia, the chairman of Kwande Local Government Area and relevant security agencies to urgently intervene and safeguard the affected communities.
According to him, deploying security personnel without active response amounts to mere decoration rather than protection.
“If these security personnel cannot defend communities within shouting distance of their base, then something is deeply wrong,” he added.
He urged stakeholders and the international community to pay attention to the situation and support efforts aimed at ending insecurity in Kwande.
Reacting to the development, Governor Hyacinth Alia strongly condemned the killings in Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities located in Yaav and Mbadura council wards of Kwande Local Government Area.
However, the governor gave a different casualty figure, stating that 12 people were killed while several others sustained injuries.
In a statement issued by his Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Chief Solomon Iorpev, the governor described the attack as barbaric, senseless and unacceptable.
He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
Alia said every life matters and assured residents of Kwande and Benue State that his administration would ensure those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.
He also directed security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.
The governor assured residents that his administration remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and would not be deterred by individuals opposed to peace.
He appealed to residents of Kwande to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies working to restore peace in the area, promising that the government would do everything possible to ensure lasting peace returns to the state.
Attempts to obtain a reaction from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful at the time this report was filed.