Parallel Attacks by Fulani Militia Logged in Southwest, South-South and Southeast
By Olikita Ekani
(Makurdi) Armed Muslim Fulani terrorists have intensified their attacks on Benue communities, killing 2 Soldiers and 5 Christian farmers in fresh attack in Jato-Aka, Kwande County
In another attack same day, 12 Militants were killed at Agwabi Criminal hideout in Tombo community in Buruku county by Operation Zenda Joint Taskforce, a Special Branch of the Nigerian Police Force responsible for Counter-Insurgency and other forms of criminality in Benue State, a part of Nigeria’s Northcentral region. The Taskforce also lost an operative during the attack.
Parallel attacks were logged
Jato-Aka, the headquarters of Turan Community in Kwande County is 100 miles (161 km) Southeast of Makurdi, the state capital, 270 miles (435km) Southeast of Abuja, the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, an agrarian and a predominantly Christian community with 98 percent Catholic faithful and has been under constant attacks by Fulani terrorists who usually cross from neigbhouring Taraba State and the mountainous Cameroonian border.
In one of the deadly attacks on Turan Community on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024, Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) killed 11 Christians who were celebrating Christmas
In another attack on March 3, 2025, FEM also struck the community, killing two brothers, injuring and displacing many.
How 5 Christians, 2 Soldiers, 1 Policeman were killed at Jato-Aka
Mr Solomon Amande, a Youth Leader from Turan, former Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Kogi State on Politics and that of Benue State on Media and Publicity, in a phone interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent, confirmed the deadly attack, saying it was carried out by Fulani militia.
“The attack took place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, from 2 pm local time (13hGMT) till night as the rampaging armed Fulani militia were trying to overrun Jato-Aka.
“The attackers came from Kashimbila, a neighboring community in Taraba State, harboring the terrorists. They killed 5 of our people at the outskirts of Jato-Aka.
“The Commander of the Operation Whirl Stroke, the Joint Military Taskforce deployed few days ago to protect Jato-Aka was called and informed that Fulani Terrorists were approaching the town with an intention of overrunning the community. He swiftly deployed some personnel to repel the invasion but unfortunately, they were ambushed by the attackers, 3 of the personnel including, 2 Soldiers and 1 Mobile Policeman were killed, with one receiving treatment at NKST Hospital in Jato-Aka.
“4 out of the 5 Council Wards in Turan are completely in the hands of Fulani terrorists. Our people are no longer living any of the 4 council wards for more than 5 years now. Only Jato-Aka that is partially being occupied by our people.
“Despite the relentless outcry of our people to the Federal government to dislodge the Jihadists from our communities so that our people could go back home, rebuild their destroyed homes, churches, schools, markets and hospitals but nothing has been done”, Amande lamented.
Another resident of Jato-Aka, Terna Godwin in a phone interview with TruthNigeria said, the attackers invaded Jato-Aka through Anwase, Mbakyor border, killing 5 and wounding 3 others. They also killed 2 soldiers and a mobile police that were coming to repel them. Security personnel couldn’t stand them because of their superior power. It was even our youth that summoned courage to recover the corpses of the soldiers from bush to Jato-Aka after the deadly attack”
“We are appealing to the international community to pressure President Tinubu to take a decisive action to save our land and people. The Fulani terrorists are not only killing our people but taking over our land with a plan to change the demography in future”, Terna cried out.
Benue residents deserting their Communities
Residents of Benue State are deserting their homes in droves due to escalating attacks on farmers in the state. As it stands today, none of the counties in the 3 Senatorial Districts that made up the state is safe due to vicious activities of Fulani militia, who now carry out attacks, kidnappings, killings and armed robbery with impunity as there is no authority to question them.
Related Attacks in other States Suggest a National Strategy
The attacks in Benue were echoes of similar local massacres in regions of Nigeria’s southwestern and southeastern states.
At least five farmers were killed early Wednesday when armed Fulani militia attacked a farming settlement in Aba Oyinbo village in Akure North County, Ondo State in Southwest Nigeria.
The attack comes just two weeks after more than 20 farmers were massacred in a similar midnight raid on four neighboring communities, according to The Guardian.
Outraged by the continued bloodshed, residents took to the streets, storming the Governor’s office and blocking major roads, leaving commuters stranded. The protesters accused the government of failing to prevent the recurring unprovoked attacks and demanded immediate action.
Fulani gang attacks in the Southeastern State of Enugu have so paralyzed normal life there that hundreds of Enugu mothers protested on March 4-5, by shutting down the markets in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzu county of Enugu State. Thousands of women staged protests against incessant attacks and killings in the area by the Fulani ethnic militia (FEM).
Fulani Crisis Challenges Residents of Nigeria’s Deep South
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has vowed to enforce the state’s anti-grazing law to curb violent attacks by Fulani militia, reports The Punch.
The law, enacted on March 10, 2021, aims to ban open grazing and prevent the unprovoked attacks on farmers but has been poorly enforced. Recently, herders raped an elderly woman on her farm in one community, while another woman was killed in a neighboring area.
On Wednesday, Diri convened a meeting with local officials and traditional rulers, ordering them to enforce the law. “Keeping your community safe is your responsibility,” he said through his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
He directed all local government chairpersons to form anti-grazing enforcement committees and submit members’ names within three days.
“No part of Ijaw land has ever been conquered… It is our duty to protect it,” he declared, urging community leaders to report security threats and help safeguard residents from further attacks.
Olikita Ekani, a Conflict Reporter with TruthNigeria
