Six persons have been killed by suspected armed herders in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
The gunmen attacked Tse Ugema Chul, Mbakesa, Ugbaam, a few kilometres from Zaki Biam, headquarters of Ukum LGA, on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
According to an eyewitness account, youths in the village, including one Michael Adeke Michael, who in recent times had constantly lamented on Facebook over cattle straying into their farmlands and destroying yams, decided to embark on self-defense.
The youths chased the herdsmen with sticks and stones to a nearby stream called Kafe.
Unknown to them, the invaders stationed some of their men at the stream who laid ambush as they were approaching the stream.
The armed men numbering over 50 came out from the bush with guns, machetes and other arms, and overpowered the youths, killing a yet-to-be-ascertained number of people.
A resident from the area told newsmen on the phone that six d3ad bodies have been recovered while many others are still missing.
“While the youths were going after the cattle, unknown gunmen who laid ambush opened fire and k!lled some of the youths, as of Saturday evening, six bodies have been recovered,” the resident said.
The Chairman of Ukum LG, Mr Jonathan Modi, who confirmed the attack in a statement on Sunday, expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the persistent k!llings and destruction of properties by armed herdsmen across villages in the local government area.
Hon. Modi made these remarks during an inspection visit to the attacked village.
Addressing security personnel at the scene, the chairman voiced his disappointment and dissatisfaction with their response to the crisis, stating that communities across Ukum are being abandoned as terrified residents flee for safety.
He charged them to be more proactive and responsive to distress calls, assuring them that his administration is providing all necessary logistics to support their operations.
“We have had enough! It is time for no more excuses,” he declared.
Accompanied by security operatives, Hon. Modi embarked on a comprehensive assessment tour of affected areas, including Tse Alabar, Tse Ordondo, Hwande, Toni, Tse Yoosu Tiza, and Tse Begha all in Kundav Ward.
The team observed that these once-thriving communities now lay desolate, overtaken by grazing cattle in the absence of their human inhabitants.
“We must do everything possible to reclaim our land,” the chairman vowed.
