The Benue State Police Command has announced that it is examining fresh killings in two local government areas of the state.
The spokesperson for the state command, Udeme Edet, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday, said that the command is managing the situation.
She added that an investigation into the separate assaults on Ado and Ohinmini LGAs between Monday and Tuesday had begun.
She said, “The command is fully engaged with the situation and has commenced investigation on the incidents.” Some armed pastoralists were reported to have descended upon some communities in Ado and Ohinmini Local Government Areas of the state between Monday and Tuesday, claiming the lives of about five persons.
A number of people were said to be unaccounted for during the attacks that have compelled residents of the communities to flee.
The communities reportedly targeted in the renewed incursions of herdsmen included Rijo and Anwuel villages in Ado and Ohinmini LGAs, respectively. At Rijo in Ado LGA, a barber named Thomas Edeh was reportedly killed, with the location of many people still unknown.
It was understood that the armed bandits attacked the community situated six kilometres from Igumale town, headquarters of Ado LGA, on Tuesday at about 7:10 pm.
It was further gathered that the victim, an indigene of Effium community in Ebonyi State but residing in Rijo community. A community leader and former leader of Ado legislative council, who originated from the axis and spoke on the assurance of anonymity, said on Wednesday that the victim was also a successful farmer and was attacked and shot dead by the armed herdsmen on his farm. “It’s very unfortunate, they had been stealing his yams; he had repeatedly warned them to stop, but the best they can do is to eliminate him.
“This young man was attacked and shot dead on his farm at Rijo, Ogege Ward, Utonkon District, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, by armed herders,” he said.
The former lawmaker who expressed shock with the manner people were being killed in the local government said that it’s now difficult for people to reach their farms. Efforts to contact the chairman of Ado LGA, Sunday Oche, were unsuccessful as his phone did not connect.
But the deputy speaker of the state assembly, Mrs. Lami Danladi Ogenyi, who is representing Ado LGA, denounced the attack on Rijo community.
She called on security agencies to intensify measures in safeguarding the lives and property of residents.
The attack on Ohinmini LGA happened between Monday and Tuesday evening, resulting in four people dead.
Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Adole Gabriel, confirmed the incident and said that he had notified the state government and security agencies of the attack.
The chairman said, “Four people were killed between Monday and Tuesday by armed pastoralists. The government has already deployed security personnel to the area.”
There had been peace in some of the volatile communities after President Tinubu’s directive to security operatives to apprehend the criminals troubling the state during his condolence visit after the massacre of about 200 people in Yelwata community. The renewed attacks, which began in Logo LGA and expanded to Ado and Ohinmini LGAs, seem to be indicating that the situation remains precarious.
Share On:
CLICK HERE TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC/VIDEO