Easter massacre in Benue as gunmen kill over 10, razed homes, others

Crime Diary

ABUJA, NIGERIA, April 5, 2026 (NPA) — Terror struck Benue State today as gunmen stormed Agena community in Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area, killing no fewer than ten people in a dawn raid. The terrorists razed homes, food barns, and the local market, leaving widespread destruction and forcing terrified residents to flee.

Eyewitnesses described the assault as sudden and merciless, with the agrarian community caught off guard on Easter Sunday. Survivors recounted scenes of chaos as families scrambled for safety amid gunfire and flames.

As of press time, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, had yet to issue an official statement, and state government officials remained silent on the massacre.

Benue has endured relentless violence, with killings and mass displacement becoming a grim reality. Amnesty International previously reported that as of July 2025, more than 510,000 people were internally displaced across the state, many languishing in squalid camps without adequate food, water, or healthcare.

The latest atrocity follows the June 14, 2025 raid on Yelewata, where gunmen killed over 100 people and forced nearly 4,000 to flee. Amnesty investigators described the aftermath as harrowing, with decomposing bodies, bullet shells scattered across the ground, and freshly dug mass graves.

Survivors continue to seek refuge in IDP camps across Gwer West, Agatu, Ukum, Kwande, Logo, Guma, and Makurdi, often left to fend for themselves as security forces arrive only after attackers have vanished.