Governor Alia Orders Crackdown on Terrorist Camps in Forest Areas
By Ekani Olikita
A new wave of violence in Christian dominated Central Nigeria’s Benue State has left at least three people dead, including two volunteer community guards and a police officer.
The killings come amid escalating attacks on Christian rural farming communities, heightening fears of worsening insecurity across the region.
The killings, which occurred over the weekend and into Monday, are part of a broader surge in violence that has claimed at least 35 lives across the state within a week, according to local reports.
In Agatu County, two volunteer guards were killed Monday evening in Atakpa village while attempting to defend their community from an assault by Fulani Ethnic Militia.
Residents said the Fulani attackers arrived on motorcycles and opened fire, triggering a gun battle.
Adanu Shaibu, a local community leader, said the guards had anticipated an attack after nearby Edikwu-Ankpali was targeted on Sunday.
“Our youths mobilized because we believed the attackers would strike,”
“They came in large numbers and opened fire. Despite resistance, we lost two of our boys”, Adanu told TruthNigeria
The attack followed a deadly raid Sunday evening on Edikwu-Ankpali in neighboring Apa County, where at least 10 Christian residents were killed after returning from Sunday church service.
Residents described the assailants as heavily armed Muslim Fulani Ethnic Militia and traveling in groups on motorcycles, tactics that have become increasingly common in rural attacks across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
In a separate incident Saturday, a mobile police officer was killed in Upu village in Otukpo County while responding to another attempted invasion. Two other officers were injured.
Dennis Ebije, a resident of Upu, said approximately two dozen Fulani attackers tried to overrun the village.
“The Police engaged them for about 30 minutes. One officer was killed and others were wounded, but their response prevented greater casualties”, Dennis told TruthNigeria
Otukpo County confirmed Attack and praised security forces for their response.
“These attacks are becoming too frequent. Our people are afraid to go to their farms. We must bring this situation under control”, Maxwell Ogiri, Otukpo County told TruthNigeria
Long-Running Violence
The affected communities, Atakpa, Upu and Edikwu-Ankpali, are predominantly Christian farming communities in southern Benue, roughly 50 miles southwest of the state capital, Makurdi. Residents say they have faced repeated attacks for more than a decade.
Benue lies in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, a region where conflicts between armed Muslim Fulani Ethnic Militia and Christian farming communities have intensified over attempted land Grabbing and ethnic and religious divisions.
According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, armed Fulani militia groups have been linked to nearly 24,000 civilian deaths over a recent four-year period, underscoring the scale of the crisis.
Security analysts say the pattern of coordinated raids, often involving large numbers of armed Fulani terrorists on motorcycles, suggests a high level of organization.
“The frequency and coordination of these attacks indicate that these are not random attacks but structured operations,”
“The use of forests as staging grounds allows attackers to strike and withdraw with little resistance”, Francis Aduba, a retired Police officer and security analyst in an interview with TruthNigeria
He added that limited security presence in rural areas continues to leave communities vulnerable.
“Until there is sustained intelligence-driven operations and a permanent security presence in these communities, the cycle of violence is likely to continue,” Sani said.
Government Response
In response to the latest killings, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia has ordered security forces to launch an immediate crackdown on armed Fulani terrorists operating in forested areas across the state.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the governor described the attacks as “unacceptable” and said armed groups had been using unoccupied forests in the state as bases for coordinated assaults.
He directed security agencies to dismantle such camps and restore safety to affected communities.
“The protection of lives and property remains our foremost responsibility,” the statement said.
Despite repeated assurances from authorities, residents say attacks have persisted, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current security measures.
For many in Benue’s rural Christian communities, the violence has disrupted daily life, with farmers abandoning their fields and families fleeing their homes.
As the death toll continues to rise, community leaders are calling for more decisive action to prevent further bloodshed and restoration of permanent security.
Ekani Olikita is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
