Political Fest Shuts Down Capital, But Murder Reigns in the Burbs
By Ekani Olikita
(Makurdi) Pro-Gov. Hyacinth Alia/President Bola Tinubu Solidarity Supporters shut down Makurdi on Thursday, June 12, 2025, with military pomp and fanfare as Christians mourned death of five citizens killed by Fulani jihadists just a stone’s throw away from the ceremonies.
The scene recalled the irony of Charles Dickens’ classic novel, A Tale of Two Cities, which contrasted lifestyles of the haves and have-nots in 18th Century London and Paris.
In the latest attack, armed Fulani Jihadists in the early hours of Thursday, June 12, 2025, launched a coordinated attack on Akundu-Tyough community, at the North Bank area of Makurdi, the capital City of Benue State, killing 5 Christian residents and injuring 8 others.
Despite this gruesome murder in the heart of Makurdi, a pro-Gov. Hyacinth Alia/ Bola Tinubu solidarity march, allegedly bankrolled by the Benue State Governor, closed off many streets in Makurdi as they marched in solidarity for Gov Hyacinth Alia and President Bola Tinubu tribute to Nigeria’s 26th National Democracy Day. Both the governor and the president are standard bearers for Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress Party.
This latest round of killing in Benue State by Fulani Islamists is coming after widespread deadly attacks in Agatu, Apa and Gwer-West counties, resulting in the death of 6 persons and life-changing injuries to many, bringing the total of Christians killed in the last one week to 11.
Killings of Christian Residents by Fulani terrorists have continued unabated across the state since June 1, despite the visit of the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Olufemi Oluyede, to Makurdi to give assurances of improved security. The COAS visited Makurdi on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 and had a closed-door Security meeting with the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.
It was earlier announced by the mainstream media in Nigeria that Lt. Gen Oluyede was relocating to the State to crack down on escalating armed Fulani insurgency following simultaneous attacks on Sunday, June 1, 2025 on some communities in Gwer-West and Apa counties, resulting in the death of 41 Christian residents, but the top general of the army returned the next day to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria without visiting any of the affected communities or troops in the field.
Violent attacks by Fulani terrorists in Benue State began in 2013 and have escalated across the 23 counties of the State, resulting in the death of thousands of innocent Christian residents.
How Fulani Jihadists Murdered 5, injuring 8 Christian Residents in Makurdi — Eyewitness
Tersoo Tina, a resident of the deserted Akondu community in Makurdi, described the moment of the Democracy Day attack to TruthNigeria.
“It was about 12 am midnight (23 GMT) of on Thursday, June 12, 2025, when everybody was at sleep, I heard my neighbors crying, but I didn’t know it was Fulani attack,” Tersoo told TruthNigeria. “Then I heard the attackers speaking Fulani language and shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’. We counted 5 bodies and evacuated 8 injured persons to hospital after the attack,” she went on to say.
Three Christian Residents Killed June 9 in Apa County: Eyewitness
Three days prior to Democracy Day, three persons were killed and three sustained life-threatening injuries and are currently receiving medical treatments in Ugbokpo, Apa County Headquarters, according to Gowon Atungwu, an eyewitness and a resident of Edikwu’G’Icho community in Apa county.
“It was about 3 pm (14 GMT) on Monday, June 9, 2025, a group of about 17 armed Fulani Jihadists who were shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, speaking Hausa and Fulfude (the common languages spoken by Fulani Ethnic Group in Nigeria), ambushed and opened fire on our people along EdikwG’Icho- Ole’Adoga road, killing 3 persons,” Atungwu said.
Bus Driver Killed in Agatu County June 9, 2 others wounded
Speaking in a phone interview with TruthNigeria, a resident of Odugbeho precinct in Agatu County, Mr. Dahiru Alpha narrated how a bus driver, Sunday Dutse, was killed in the late hours of Monday, June 9, 2025.
“Fulani terrorists at about 6:45 pm (17:45 GMT), opened fire on a bus passing through Odugbeho-Ogbaulu road, killing the driver, Sunday Dutse from Odejo village instantly,” Alpha said. “Two passengers also sustained gunshots and have been evaluated to the hospital,” he added.
Fulani Ethnic Militia Camp in Agatu Despite Order to Leave County
Edor Saidu, a native of Odugbeho Community in Agatu County while revealing why killings have persisted in Agatu and Apa counties to TruthNigeria, confirmed the establishment of camps in his community by Fulani Jihadists despite a departure order by Agatu County Chairman, Melvin James Ejeh, to leave Agatu land on April 27, 2025.
“Fulani Ethnic Militia have stayed put, establishing camps around Odejo, Odugbeho, Ogbaulu, Olegobidu and Aila axis in Agatu East, using as Launchpads to carry out deadly attacks on communities in neighboring Apa and Gwer-West counties,” according to a statement from the County Chairman.
Ajeh went on to say, that “The Terrorists are claiming that all the top military commanders are their allies, will always inform them of impending military operations ahead, saying they have come to stay in Apa and Agatu Local government areas (counties).”
Makurdi, Apa, Agatu Counties Chairmen Confirmed Killings
The killing of 5 persons in Makurdi, 3 in Agatu and 3 in Apa in separate phone interviews by Makurdi county Chairman, Maurice Orwough, Agatu county Chairman, Melvin James Ejeh and their Apa county counterpart, Ogwola Ochega, in calls made by TruthNigeria. that the victims were gruesomely murdered by Fulani terrorists.
Six days before Democracy Day, Fulani militia were busy attacking Christian farmers along Makurdi-Naka Road, according to eyewitness Aondongusha Mom Basil. “About 20 armed Fulani militia, blocked the Makurdi-Naka Road at about 5:12 pm local time (16:12 GMT) shooting on sight, any farmer returning home through the road,” he told TruthNigeria.
“Many were shot and sustained life-threatening injuries and are currently being treated at various hospitals,”, Aondongusha said.
Ekani Olikita is a Conflict Reporter with TruthNigeria.
