Residents of Egwuma, a Christian farming village in Benue State, accuse Nigerian military of abandonment after Fulani militia kill 4 and attempt arson in back-to-back attacks.
By Ekani Olikita
(Makurdi) Armed Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) have again slashed 4 more Christians to death in Egwuma Community, Agatu County of Benue State.
The gruesome murder which took place in the late hours of Friday, August 22, 2025, is coming two days after similar killing of 4 Christians in the same community and its environs, including late Mrs. Eunice Abu and her son, Adanu Abu on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
The victims include Sunday Ngbede, Ochoechi Ochokpefu and Yusuf Onuminya. A middle-aged man identified as Sunday Ochijele who was declared missing on Friday was found dead on Sunday evening, bringing the death toll to 4.
Egwuma, an Agrarian and a predominantly Christian community (98% Catholic), known for its massive production of rice, beans, cassava and yam, is located 106 km (66 miles) Southwest of Makurdi, the Benue State Capital and only separated from Nasarawa from the River Benue
Youths Repelled Fulani Terrorists in Burning Attempt
Another group of Fulani terrorists, numbering about 30 who invaded Egwuma from neighboring Ejima village, with the sole aim of setting the community ablaze on Sunday, August 24, 2025, were repelled by gallant youths guarding the community, according to an Eyewitness, Inalegwu Oche.
“After killing 4 of our people on Wednesday and another 4 on Friday, about 30 well-armed Fulani terrorists regrouped on Sunday, invaded our deserted village at about 7:15 pm (18:15 HGMT), started pouring fuel (Premium Motor Spirit) on various houses and setting them ablaze from all angles, thinking nobody was at home to confront them but met stiff resistance as we took on them, hunting them down and pursued them back to where they came from,” Oche said.
“We neutralized some of them, but they took away their dead members”, Oche narrated.
“The Attackers came from Kogi State”– Eyewitness
Gideon Ademu, a resident of Egwuma and an eyewitness, in an interview with TruthNigeria, confirmed the latest killing and inferno attempt, saying they were carried out by Fulani Jihadists from neighboring Kogi State.
“It was about 5:30 pm (16:30 HGMT) on Friday, August 22, 2025 when most of our people returned home after the day’s farming activities, more than 55 well-armed Fulani Ethnic militia, speaking Hausa and Fulfulde (common languages spoken by Fulani Ethnic Group in Nigeria) and chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’, ambushed our community from all angles, shooting sporadically, killing anyone on sight. We recovered 3 corpses Friday night, and we have just recovered the corpse of Sunday Ochijele who was declared missing on Friday, bringing the number of dead to 4.”
“Another group of Fulani attempted to burn down our community on Sunday but were brutally confronted by our youths and sent away”
‘No Security Base in Our Community Despite Persistent Attacks’
Gideon Ademu further decried the absence of Security Base or Checkpoint despite frequent attacks on their community.
“Our community has been attacked 7 times this year alone, the government is aware but refused to establish any security checkpoint, that is why they can attack, kill and go scot-free”
Fulani Terrorists always Attack Us after Military Departure
Gideon further alleged that, most of the attacks on their village were carried out shortly after departure of military detachment.
“What is also so shocking to us is that most of the attacks on our community were successfully carried out shortly after the detachment of the military from the local government headquarters would visit and leave, it looks as if the military is colluding with our attackers”, Gideon said.
We are Surrounded by Our Killers; we need Foreign Help— Resident
Umar Saidu, another Resident of Egwuma in a phone interview with TruthNigeria, has cried out to the International Community for urgent intervention, saying his community is already surrounded by their killers.
“The Fulani terrorists who are terrorizing our community almost on daily basis, came from neighboring Kogi State. They have displaced residents of our neighboring communities such as Olomachi, Olagbani, Akile, Olad’Apa, Ogwumogbo, established camps and are currently occupying them. We have informed the military Command stationed in Obagaji, Agatu Local Government (County) headquarters but no action has been taken to dislodge them. We are calling on the International Community to come to our rescue since our government can no longer protect us”, Umar cried out
The Government, Military Failed our People — Egwuma Youth Leader
In his reaction to the renewed attack, Egwuma community Youth Leader, Jeremiah Desmond, blamed the Government especially, the Nigerian military for its failure to protect their people.
“The military personnel are only stationed in Obagaji, the Agatu Local Government Capital (10 km from our community), which has never witnessed any Fulani attack. We have been appealing to the Government to establish a military Checkpoint in our community due to relentless attacks on our village but to no avail,” Desmond said.
“The military personnel were informed about all the past attacks on our community when they were about to start and ongoing, but they wouldn’t respond until after the attacks. They would come after the attacks, stay for some minutes and return to their Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Obagaji,” Desmond said.
Military disarmed our youth, promised to Protect our People but Failed
Desmond added that, their abled youths who were protecting their community were disarmed by the military on their first arrival and our people were promised better protection, but the reverse has become the case.
“The military during their first visit to our community, disarmed our youths guarding the community, they asked our people to stay without fear and assuring them full protection but can’t keep to their promise as we don’t see them whenever Fulani terrorists are attacking our community despite being informed “, Desmond reiterated.
Agatu County Chairman Speaks
Melvin James Ejeh, Agatu County Chairman while reacting to the attacks in a phone interview with TruthNigeria, condemned the unprovoked killing and an attempt to burn down Egwuma community by Fulani militia, saying the perpetrators would be brought to justice, cautioning Agatu Youth against Cattle Rustling.
“Yes, Agatu has recorded another round of killing once again on Friday and other attempt to set Egwuma ablaze. Let me assure my people that, the perpetrators of these dastardly acts must be brought to justice. I want to reiterate my appeal to our youths against Cattle Rustling”, Melvin James Ejeh said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Police Command, CSP Udeme Edet in her reaction said, the command has not been briefed officially.
“We received a distress call about the attack, but we have not been briefed officially”, she said.
Ekani Olikita, a Conflict Reporter for TruthNigeria.
