Benue Residents of Displacement Camps Welcome Proposals of Rep. Riley Moore to the White House
By Ekani Olikita
Four Christian residents, including a pastor and two fishermen, have been killed by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) in Agatu and Apa Counties of Benue State.
Two Christian women were also reportedly raped during the assaults.
As residents of the affected communities include Obishu in Agatu, and Edikwu-G’Icho, Edikwu-Okpogo and Olegijamu in Apa hurried to make funeral arrangements for the dead, friends of Nigerian Christians in the U.S. Congress made a historic recommendation to President Donald Trump.
Congressman Riley Moore on Feb. 23, 2026, recommended a wide range of new policy prescriptions to abate the root causes of terrorism in Benue State. Moore along with other Congressmen and staff visited personally with survivals of genocidal attacks on Dec. 10, 2025, near Makurdi, the capital of Benue State. U.S. Rep. Moore’s policy prescriptions are reported in other stories on TruthNigeria today.
“I traveled on a bipartisan delegation to Nigeria and saw with my own eyes the horrific atrocities Christians face, and the instability the Nigerian government must combat,” according to Moore in his press release. “Through Congressional hearings, expert testimony, meeting with Internally Displaced People, hearing from religious leaders, and engaging with high-level Nigerian government officials, we have provided a clear picture of the threat environment in Nigeria and the horrific persecution Christians face,” Moore reportedly said.
Among the prescriptions are the following: “Withholding certain U.S. funds, pending demonstrable action by the Nigerian government to stop violence against Christians.”
Agatu and Apa, with headquarters in Obagaji and Ugbokpo respectively, are predominantly agrarian and Christian counties (98% mostly Catholics), are located about 50.8 and 52 miles southwest of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Residents are claiming that the Fulani attackers crossed into Benue from neighboring Nasarawa State through riverine routes along the River Benue and were operating from forest camps in border areas.
TruthNigeria on February 8, 2026 sent out a Security alert about the influx of Fulani terrorists from Nasarawa State with the intention of attacking rural communities in Apa, Agatu and Gwer-West Counties.
TruthNigeria again on Monday, February 23, 2026 repeated its earlier warning on imminent attacks on communities in Apa County
Fulani Ethnic Militia have been linked to thousands of deadly attacks across Nigeria. According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, Fulani militants were responsible for killing almost 24,000 civilians in the 4-year reporting period, making the conflict one of the deadliest in the country’s recent history.
Two Fishermen Killed in Agatu
In Agatu, two Christian fishermen were ambushed and killed on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM), while fishing along the riverbank in Obishu community
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent, Agatu County (Local Government) Chairman, Melvin James Ejeh, condemned the killings.
“The two fishermen were carrying out their legitimate fishing activities when armed Fulani Militiamen, shouting Allahu Akbar, attacked and killed them on the spot,” he said. “This is barbaric. I have directed security agencies to go after the perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice.”
He added that security forces had been deployed to prevent further violence.
Pastor, Worshipper Killed in Apa
In Apa, Pastor Ngbede Agaba’Idu of the Christian Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria (CEFN), Edikwu-G’Icho, was killed on Sunday, February 22, shortly after church service. A worshipper identified as Oche was also killed in a separate attack the same afternoon.
An eyewitness, Atungwu Aduba in an interview with TruthNigeria, said about 30 heavily armed Fulani Jihadists, speaking Fufulde and shouting “Allahu Akbar,” blocked access roads to Edikwu-G’Icho village shortly after worshippers dispersed.
“The pastor had just left church and was heading toward Ugbokpo when he was attacked along the road and macheted to death,” he said. “Another worshipper, Mr Oche ran into an uncompleted building for safety, but the attackers pursued and killed him”, he told TruthNigeria.
Two Women Sexually Assaulted
During the chaos, two Christian women were reportedly abducted to nearby bush and sexually assaulted.
Janet Adanu, a relative of one of the victims, said the women were seized while returning home to Olegijamu after church service.
“They were taken into the bush and assaulted. They have since been found and are receiving medical care,” she told TruthNigeria.
Local authorities confirmed that the victims are undergoing treatment in Ugbokpo.
Community Volunteers Repel Fresh Assault
Tension escalated on Monday, February 23, when more than 200 well-armed Fulani terrorists reportedly attempted to overrun Oiji community and nearby villages in Apa.
Local Christian youth volunteers said they mobilized following security alerts warning of impending attacks on their communities.
Babangida Elaigwu, a youth leader, said the confrontation lasted nearly two hours.
“Many armed men attempted to invade our communities, but we were vigilant and resisted them. After an exchange of gunfire, they retreated”, he told TruthNigeria.
Fulani Terrorists Camps identified
Babangida went further to name Fulani Ethnic Militia Camps where they converge, plan before attacking rural communities in Apa County
“These Fulani Terrorists who are attacking our communities now came from Nasarawa State and have been staying in three main camps namely: Oglagba, Ojecho and the Apa-Agatu-Gwer-West Border Camps. They want to take over our land establish Islamic caliphate on our, we can’t allow them, we shall fight to finish. We have repeatedly informed the military to dislodge them, but no decisive action has been taken”, he told TruthNigeria.
Authorities Confirm Incidents
Chairman of Apa County (Local Government Area), Adams Ochega Ogwola, confirmed the killings and the attempted invasion to TruthNigeria.
“There were attacks on Sunday in which two persons were killed and two women sexually assaulted,” he said. “On Monday, there were attempts to invade Oiji and surrounding communities, but the youths resisted them. Security agencies have been informed.”
Security Expert Warns of Escalation
A Makurdi-based security analyst and Former Deputy Chairman of Agatu County, John Anthony Ikwulono, described the attacks as part of a broader pattern of Ethno-religious Cleansing in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
“What we are seeing is a combination of porous inter-state borders, weak rural intelligence networks, above all land Grabbing/Ethno-religious Cleansing mission and delayed security response,” he said. “When armed groups can assemble and move through forest corridors unchecked, it exposes significant surveillance gaps. When Muslim Fulani Ethnic Militia speak Fufulde and chant Allahu Akbar while killing their victims, it takes Ethno-religious coloration”, he told TruthNigeria.
Ekani Olikita is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
